France, Oct. 1 -- The Nuremberg trials concluded by sentencing 12 Nazi defendants to death and seven to periods of imprisonment ranging from 10 years to life.

Prior to this, international law dealt primarily with states rather than individuals. Nuremberg set the precedent in terms of prosecuting individuals for war crimes, crimes against humanity and crimes against peace.

Following the trials, the United Nations in 1950 codified the Nuremberg Principles - seven guidelines which established principles including individual responsibility, the supremacy of international law, a lack of immunity for heads of state and the fact that following orders did not relieve an individual of responsibility.

These paved the way for the founding in 2002...