Mistake of law - national proceedings

Germany

Germany - Criminal Code 1871 (2013) EN

GENERAL PART

CHAPTER TWO
THE OFFENCE

FIRST TITLE
FOUNDATIONS OF CRIMINAL LIABILITY

Section 17
Mistake of law

If at the time of the commission of the offence the offender lacks the awareness that he is acting unlawfully, he shall be deemed to have acted without guilt if the mistake was unavoidable. If the mistake was avoidable, the sentence may be mitigated pursuant to section 49(1).

Rome Statute

Article 32 Mistake of fact or mistake of law

2. A mistake of law as to whether a particular type of conduct is a crime within the jurisdiction of the Court shall not be a ground for excluding criminal responsibility. A mistake of law may, however, be a ground for excluding criminal responsibility if it negates the mental element required by such a crime, or as provided for in article 33.