text: individual who used the power vested in him to commit a crime. The Commiesion’e CO~COR, howtwerp was to provide, not for the criminal responsibility of the State, but for that of natural persons acting in the performance of their duties. A war crime could obviouely be committed by a soldier on the battlefield who used prohibited means of warfare to cormnit such a crime, or by an officer who ill-treated prisoners of war. It was accordingly neceesary to identify, in each specific case, the persons who, by virtue of t.heir- functions or activities, were liable to commit the crime in guestion, which was essentially a matter for the judge to decide, 54. With regard to the proposals intended to tighten up the notion of complicity, the Special Rapporteur pointed out that the greater the number of participant8 the more difficult it was to define the notion of an accomplice, which had evolvud from the traditional concept of an accomplice present when the crime was committed, to that of an accomplice who took no direct part in it8 COl’Mli88iOl3, A new category of accomplice8 had appeared, which was not based on the traditional concept! it comprised those who directed, planned or organised a crime in the perpetration of which they took no direct part. Persons in that category, who had often occupied high-ranking posts in the administrative, political or military hierarchy, and were sometimes judges, had been treated by the Niirnberg Tribunal ~6 accomplices. The Charter of the Nihberg Tribunal had limited the notion of an accomplice Co that category. It had been argued during the debate that it was impossible to prosecute a whole people, but in the case of the Third Reich, the Niirnberg Charter had referred to the leaders, organisers an4 accomplices. 55.The Special Rapporteur considered that complicity included both Physical
analysis: The text appears to be discussing legal and ethical concepts related to war crimes, criminal responsibility, and complicity. It mentions the Nuremberg Tribunal and the concept of accomplices, which suggests a focus on international law and justice. Given the context, it is likely that the text is related to the field of law, international relations, or ethics.