The principle of individual criminal responsibility is a cornerstone of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and international criminal law, establishing that individuals, rather than states or groups, are personally accountable for violations of international law. This principle emerged prominently after the Second World War, particularly through the Nuremberg and Tokyo Trials, which set precedents by prosecuting individuals for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and crimes against peace, rather than attributing liability solely to states. The principle emphasizes that following orders or acting under state authority does not absolve a person from legal responsibility for illegal acts, reinforcing the notion that individuals must exercise moral and legal judgment even in situations of armed conflict. Individual criminal responsibility in IHL applies to a range of offenses committed during armed conflicts, whether international or non-international. These include, but are not limited to, grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions, such as willful killing, torture, inhumane treatment, taking hostages, and extensive destruction of property not justified by military necessity. It also encompasses acts recognized as war crimes under customary international law, like intentionally targeting civilians, using