Tag: UJAR

Today, TRIAL International, in collaboration with Civitas Maxima, the Center for Justice and Accountability (CJA), the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR), the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), and REDRESS, published the latest edition of the Universal Jurisdiction Annual Review (UJAR). UJAR 2025 compiles developments in 95 extraterritorial and universal jurisdiction cases prosecuted in 16 countries. The figures show that the upward trend in the use of universal jurisdiction to ensure accountability for international crimes continues, despite remaining challenges.

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Universal jurisdiction as a pillar in the fight against impunity

This eleventh edition of the UJAR testifies to the enduring role of extraterritorial and universal jurisdiction as a central pillar of the global fight against impunity. Notably, 36 new cases were opened or made public in 2024, and 27 suspects were convicted in first instance or on appeal, nearly double the number in 2023. Furthermore, Portugal joined the group of jurisdictions actively prosecuting international crimes committed abroad. Legal reforms on universal jurisdiction were adopted in Germany and Denmark in 2024, that respectively strengthened and enabled the investigation and prosecution of international crimes in the two countries.

Visual No1 with key figures from UJAR 2025 Visual No2 with key figures from UJAR 2025

The year also witnessed several positive developments in specific cases. In France, a Court of Appeal confirmed an arrest warrant against former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad. In two other cases related to the former Syrian regime, French judicial authorities confirmed that functional immunities do not apply in international crimes cases and entered convictions in absentia. These cases reflect the continued evolution of the legal framework around immunities and demonstrate that obstacles to accountability can be eroded through legal precedents. In Switzerland, Ousman Sonko, former minister of the interior of The Gambia, was convicted of crimes against humanity and sentenced to 20 years in prison, making him the highest-ranking State official tried under the principle of universal jurisdiction before a European court to date.

 

Challenges to the use of universal jurisdiction remain

At the same time, the report underscores some of the challenges faced in 2024. The failure to open investigations based on extraterritorial or universal jurisdiction into alleged international crimes committed in Gaza has been perceived as a major threat to the legitimacy of international criminal justice. Even in other situations, investigative efforts have yet to yield tangible results, such as in the case of crimes committed during Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and calls for accountability do not always translate into action, as has been the case for the documented crimes of the Belarusian regime.

 

Meeting the challenges

Despite these setbacks, the UJAR identifies several initiatives that States and their national prosecution authorities can implement to ensure that victims and survivors of international crimes have access to justice. An important first step is the strengthening of domestic legal frameworks to allow for and facilitate the prosecution of international crimes on the basis of universal jurisdiction. Increased training and resources for specialized international crimes units within domestic prosecution authorities are also essential.

The response to crimes committed in Syria demonstrates the importance of structural investigations and of the collaboration between civil society organizations – especially victims’ groups – and prosecuting authorities. The response to crimes committed in Ukraine following the full-scale invasion by Russia, demonstrates the potential of a coordinated, mobilized and cooperative international criminal justice. To ensure that victims and survivors have access to justice free from political bias, lessons learned from these responses can and should be applied across all regions affected by international crimes.

 

About the UJAR 2025

The UJAR 2025 was researched and written by UpRights. It has been produced with the financial support of the City of Geneva, the European Union, Oak Foundation, and the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy. The contents of the document are the sole responsibility of TRIAL International and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the positions of the above-mentioned donors.

The photograph shown on the publication’s cover was made by Bashar Taleb on 7 October 2023 in Gaza City.

 

Read and download the UJAR 2025:

UJAR 2025 cover

For this and previous editions of the UJAR, please click here.

For a more visual presentation of universal jurisdiction cases worldwide, please visit our interactive map UJIM.

TRIAL International, in collaboration with Civitas Maxima, the Center for Justice and Accountability (CJA), the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR), the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and REDRESS, published the 2024 edition of the Universal Jurisdiction Annual Review (UJAR) today. Now in its tenth edition, over the years, the UJAR has continued to showcase the increasingly important role of universal jurisdiction in the fight against impunity. With 36 new investigations opened in 2023 and 16 convictions, the past year confirms this positive trend.

Universal Jurisdiction Annual Review 2024

However, as noted in this year’s introductory article, the use of this crucial prosecuting tool is not expanding evenly across countries. Despite the incorporation of provisions related to international crimes in the legal frameworks of the majority of countries worldwide, only 13 domestic jurisdictions currently have open extraterritorial cases. As long as cases continue to be concentrated in a few specific jurisdictions, the truly universal nature and potential impact of universal jurisdiction will remain unexploited.

As highlighted in previous editions of the UJAR, the practice of universal jurisdiction faces numerous challenges. Civil society organizations’ (CSOs) litigation efforts have been instrumental to overcome these and allow for such an important expansion. In 2023, CSOs have been involved in legal proceedings in over 56% of the ongoing cases, by filing complaints, collaborating with or providing information to prosecuting authorities, providing support to the plaintiffs and participating as civil parties.

Thanks to the collaboration between CSOs and prosecution authorities, universal and extraterritorial jurisdiction has played a pivotal role in addressing crimes committed in Syria. The UJAR 2024 includes 49 cases underway in nine prosecuting countries for international crimes committed in Syria and bordering Iraq since 2011. Efforts to hold the Syrian regime accountable are not only numerous, but also significant considering the rank of the suspects targeted: in November 2023, the French war crimes unit issued an international arrest warrant against Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.

The past year has also shown the need for timely justice and the extent to which prolonged delays can hinder the likelihood of arrests, indictments and trials. This has been the case in the procedure, summarized in the review, against former Syrian vice-president Rifaat al-Assad, whose international arrest warrant was issued 10 years after the criminal complaint filed against him in Switzerland. Only a month before the warrant, he had ended his exile and returned to Syria, where the arm of justice will unlikely be long enough to reach him. In addition, protracted procedures bear the risk of “biological impunity” due to the advancing age, failing health and eventual death of suspects, witnesses and victims, when prosecutions are carried out decades after the crimes took place, as it recently happened in France, Germany and Switzerland.

About the UJAR 2024

The UJAR 2024 was authored by Shoshana Levy. It has been produced with the financial support of the City of Geneva, the European Union, Oak Foundation and the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy. The contents of the document are the sole responsibility of TRIAL International and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the above-mentioned donors.

Read and download the UJAR 2024:

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You can see all the previous editions of the UJAR on our website.

Conflict in Ukraine and accountability for economic actors: universal jurisdiction increasingly instrumental in the fight against impunity

TRIAL International, in collaboration with Civitas Maxima, Center for Justice and Accountability (CJA), ECCHR, FIDH and REDRESS, releases the 2023 edition of the Universal Jurisdiction Annual Review (UJAR) today. The increasing use of the principles of universal and extraterritorial jurisdiction to curb impunity for international crimes is highlighted in the report. Out of the 93 cases covered in the UJAR, 27 are new cases. This trend has, on one hand, been strengthened by the mobilization of a number of national prosecuting authorities in response to the atrocities committed on Ukrainian territory following Russia’s invasion, and, on the other hand, by new investigations targeting economic actors.

© REUTERS / Stringer

 

Progress in universal jurisdiction in 2022

The UJAR identifies relevant cases based on universal and extraterritorial jurisdiction involving the international crimes of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, torture and enforced disappearances. Significant progress in this field was made in 2022, including landmark convictions in Germany (Anwar Raslan), Sweden (Hamid Noury) and France (Kunti Kamara). With these decisions, the total number of convictions based on universal or extraterritorial jurisdiction since the UJAR was first published in 2015 has reached 78.

 

Momentum for Ukraine should be extended to crimes committed elsewhere

The atrocities committed following the Russian invasion in Ukraine triggered an unprecedented mobilization of both national prosecution authorities and international institutions, such as the International Criminal Court. At least 11 investigations have been opened across Europe and in Canada based on universal jurisdiction. While this mobilization is fundamental, it should not eclipse the need for justice in other contexts.

 

2022 KEY FIGURES

 

Ramping up investigations on economic actors

The number of legal proceedings involving the responsibility of European-based economic actors for international crimes continued to increase in 2022. Twelve investigations are currently underway, notably in France, Sweden and Switzerland, against corporations, their executives and/or businesspersons regarding their alleged involvement in international crimes. These promising applications of universal and extraterritorial jurisdiction are notably the result of long-standing civil society efforts to hold all perpetrators accountable, including powerful corporations.

“The year 2022 witnessed an unprecedented momentum in favor of universal jurisdiction. To support and sustain national courts’ commitment to the pursuit of justice, each State should firmly embrace its obligations to combat these crimes by ensuring that it has adequate resources and appropriate legislative frameworks,” emphasized Philip Grant, Executive Director of TRIAL International.

 

About the UJAR 2023

The UJAR 2023 was authored by Shoshana Levy. This publication was generously supported by the Oak Foundation, the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy and the City of Geneva.

 

About universal jurisdiction

The principle of universal jurisdiction is based on the idea that international crimes are of such a grave nature that they constitute an attack on all human beings and, therefore, the fight against impunity for these crimes should know no borders. Under this principle, States have an obligation to prosecute suspects of international crimes present on their territory – irrespective of the nationality of the suspects and their victims, and independently of where the crimes were committed.

 

Read and Download the UJAR 2023

With developments seen in more than 60 cases across 16 jurisdictions, the year 2021 highlights the growing importance of universal jurisdiction within international justice. TRIAL International publishes today, in collaboration with Civitas Maxima, the Center for Justice and Accountability (CJA), ECCHR, FIDH and REDRESS, the Universal Jurisdiction Annual Review (UJAR) 2022. While welcoming the rise of universal jurisdiction cases, this year’s UJAR highlights the additional efforts needed to bring justice to victims of conflict-related sexual violence As a powerful tool to fight against impunity for international crimes, universal jurisdiction should serve as an effective legal procedure for victims of conflict-related sexual violence. Unfortunately, when it comes to sexual violence, this is not yet the case in practice. Out of the 125 charges of international crimes included in the 2021 edition of this report, only 17 addressed conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence. The UJAR 2022 provides an explanation as to why and how universal jurisdiction can become a more effective instrument to bring justice to the victims and survivors of these crimes.

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Universal jurisdiction: justice beyond borders

The UJAR 2022, released today, documents cases brought under universal jurisdiction for international crimes, including genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, for which proceedings have been initiated by judges or prosecutors across the planet and which have undergone developments in 2021. In total, 125 international criminal charges were brought under universal jurisdiction, including 34 charges for war crimes, 66 for crimes against humanity, 25 for genocide. Only 17 charges were brought for conflict-related sexual violence.

Whether it concerns crimes committed during the genocide in Rwanda, during the war in Syria, or even during the Jammeh era in The Gambia, domestic prosecuting authorities, thanks to universal jurisdiction, have an effective means at their disposal to ensure the accused face their actions, and thus allow the voices of the victims to be heard.

“Universal jurisdiction continues to gain ground. With 17 accused currently on trial and 15 people convicted, many States’ contribution to the fight against impunity for international crimes is also made possible, and in an ever more important way, through bringing these cases listed in the UJAR 2022“, explains Giulia Soldan, head of the International Investigations and Litigation program at TRIAL International.

 

Key figures for 2021

 

Universal jurisdiction: an overlooked tool to fight conflict-related sexual violence

As a now established legal principle, with a recognized contribution to the fight against impunity, universal jurisdiction does not yet seem as effective in practice in regard to the prosecution of conflict-related sexual violence. After centuries of almost compete invisibility and neglect, sexual violence crimes – such as rape, forced sterilization and nudity, sexual slavery – are now increasingly documented and prosecuted. For example, in 2021, several cases related to universal jurisdiction included convictions for crimes of sexual violence, as seen in the verdicts against Syrian Colonel Anwar Raslan in Germany and Liberian warlord Alieu Kosiah in Switzerland.

Despite this progress, conflict-related sexual violence is still too rarely investigated and prosecuted in universal jurisdiction cases. This can be explained by several factors, including the fact that these crimes are often not integrated into investigative strategies and, when they are prosecuted, they have often been qualified as acts of torture. However, this legal qualification of sexual violence as acts of torture fails to fully reflect the implications of such violence as both a weapon of war and a deeply harmful social tactic which aims to weaken the social fabric of vulnerable communities. In addition, it should be noted that the testimonies of the victims are key to prosecuting these crimes. However, the risk of adding to the victims’ trauma and the stigmatization to which they expose themselves by testifying illustrate the need for specific training of judicial professionals to conduct these interviews.

“The consequences of sexual violence in times of conflict go far beyond the individual suffering of the victims. They affect entire communities, destroy family ties, inflict damage over several generations. The silence and impunity around these crimes must end,” says Valérie Paulet, Legal Consultant for TRIAL International.

About Universal Jurisdiction

The legal principle of universal jurisdiction is based on the idea that international crimes are of such a serious nature that they constitute an attack on all people and that the fight against impunity for those responsible for these crimes knows no geographical. Under this principle, States have the possibility (and sometimes even the obligation) to prosecute people accused of international crimes found on their sovereign land – wherever the crimes were committed and whatever the nationality of the perpetrators and the victims.

About UJAR 2022

This publication has benefited from the generous support of the Oak Foundation, the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, UKaid and the City of Geneva. It was compiled in collaboration with Civitas Maxima, CJA, ECCHR, FIDH and REDRESS.

Read and Download the UJAR 2022

 

For more information on the report:

Olivia Gerig, Communications and Media Relations Officer

+ 41 78 683 52 66

o.gerig@trialinternational.org

The year 2020 will remain in memories, by and large, as a period unlike any other. The covid-19 pandemic has turned around countless lives, and continues to do so as we write these lines. State institutions worldwide, including judicial bodies, have had to drastically change their functioning and priorities. With so many activities coming to a brutal halt, have cases related to universal jurisdiction also stalled? Luckily, far from it. 

Even a global health crisis did not imperil the use of universal jurisdiction across the world. © Getty Image / Loic Venance

 

While the pandemic has had an impact on universal jurisdiction cases, it has been more of a reorganization than a complete halt. As the 2021 Universal Jurisdiction Annual Review (UJAR) shows, many cases did move forward and new suspects were brought to justice. Put differently, even a global health crisis did not imperil the use of universal jurisdiction across the world – proof, if ever it was needed, of the solidity of the progress made in the last years (see previous UJARs for details).

“Past the first few weeks in Spring when the whole world was taken aback, the judicial community has rapidly adapted” summarizes Valérie Paulet, Legal Consultant at TRIAL International and Editor of the UJAR. “Prosecutors, judges and NGOs reacted quickly and developed creative ways of carrying out their work. Their agility and the extra effort they put in must be saluted.”

 

Strengthening remote investigations

Unsurprisingly, field investigations were considerably limited by national lockdowns and movement restrictions. Some ongoing investigations which relied on the capacity of witnesses, victims, investigators and judges to travel abroad either slowed down or stalled. NGOs in particular, whose investigations rely on flexibility and adaptability, had to find new ways of getting in touch with victims and witnesses. “We relied even more heavily than before on our networks”, explains Bénédict De Moerloose, Head of International Investigations and Litigation at TRIAL International. “Local partners initiated contact with victims and witnesses and created an initial bond, then we would meet them via secure video calls. A certain level of trust was already there. On the plus side, it brought us even closer to our collaborators in the field.”

Remote meetings presented other advantages: victims and witnesses could talk from their homes, reducing risks of being overheard or followed. Being in a familiar space was also comforting for vulnerable individuals, who could share their experiences in a safe environment. In some instances, the objects or souvenirs surrounding them in their homes prompted memories that helped to establish facts.

On the investigators’ side, online interviews meant they could speak to witnesses spread throughout the world in a single day, speeding up their work considerably. This came with a sine qua non: additional efforts were also made to ensure understanding, consent and, of course, the utmost security for interviewees.

 

Reaping the efforts from previous years

Apart from investigations, 18 new cases went to trial in 2020, bringing the total to 30 ongoing trials. What is perhaps the most prominent trial in recent years opened in Germany against Syrians Anwar R. and Eyad A. It made the international headlines and was unanimously hailed as a significant step against impunity for State crimes. Other high-profile cases include Fabien Neretsé in Belgium, Roger Lumbala in France and Alieu Kosiah in Switzerland.

Read or download the full 2021 UJAR

Most of the cases opened in 2020 could move forward thanks to fact-finding and evidence-gathering missions conducted beforehand. The pandemic and its consequences have emphasized the need for investigations to be conducted as swiftly and thoroughly as possible so that the cases can move ahead when/if the context evolves. This lesson also applies to investigations in unstable zones, which may become inaccessible within a matter of days.

The year 2020 has been a sobering one. Sanitary considerations have been added to the many difficulties of using universal jurisdiction. Despite all this, the cases presented in this UJAR prove that States have risen to the challenge and that justice will not keel.

Read or download the 2021 UJAR

 

This publication benefited from the generous support of the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, the Oak Foundation, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office of the United Kingdom and the City of Geneva. It was researched with the contribution of REDRESS, the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights, the International Federation for Human Rights, the Center for Justice and Accountability and Civitas Maxima.

The latest Universal Jurisdiction Annual Review (UJAR) salutes the rise of universal jurisdiction cases worldwide. It also highlights an alarming legal trend: the prosecution of mass atrocities as terrorism, and not international crimes.

Prosecuting atrocities as international crimes, and not as terrorism, has very real consequences for victims. © Nicole Tung

In 2019, the use of universal jurisdiction has grown exponentially. The past year has seen an unprecedented number of cases based on this legal principle: 16 countries have ongoing prosecution, 11 accused are currently on trial and over 200 suspects could soon be, too.

Read the full Universal Jurisdiction Annual Review 2020

Since universal jurisdiction is now a well-established legal practice, the debate has now shifted from whether to use universal jurisdiction to how. And a potentially harmful trend is looming…

 

Charges of terrorism or international crimes?

The fight against terrorism has become a political priority for many governments, and prosecutions under terror charges are also on the rise. Unfortunately, given the limited resources, this happens at the detriment of prosecutions for international crimes.

A detail? Not at all. The consequences are very real: the breadth of the prosecuted crimes is reduced, because charges of terrorism are less inclusive than charges of war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide. What is understood as “terrorism” also diverges widely from one country to another.

“Terrorism does not have a single, internationally recognized definition” comments Valerie Paulet, Editor of the UJAR. “Contrary to genocide, torture, enforced disappearance or war crimes, no international treaty circumscribes terrorism clearly. Each State has come up with its own definition, often influenced by current affairs and public opinion.”

 

Distinct legal bases

Another consequence is that victims have a less prominent role in the proceedings: terrorism is an attack on a State, not individuals. A hard truth to accept for man survivors, for whom access to justice is a step towards closure.

The lack of consensus on the definition of terrorism has another, more insidious consequence. It opens the door to State arbitrariness, whereas treaties codifying international crimes (such as the Convention against Genocide or the Geneva Conventions) are grounded in collegial decision-making upholding the highest standards. Put differently, the present tendency could weaken the foundations of international law, instead of reinforcing it.

The unprecedented willingness from States to punish the worst atrocities is highly positive. Now, the authorities must not cave in to political pressure and limit prosecution to terrorism charges. With the support of civil society and rooted in compelling international norms, they must prosecute crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide for what they are. No more, no less.

Read the Universal Jurisdiction Annual Review 2020

 

 

The Universal Jurisdiction Annual Review is TRIAL International’s main legal publication. It has been researched and written by Valérie Paulet, in collaboration with REDRESS, the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR) and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH). It benefited from the generous support of the City of Geneva, the Oak Foundation and the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy.

TRIAL International is proud to publish its fifth Universal Jurisdiction Annual Review (UJAR). Analyzing 60 cases across 16 countries, it proves that universal jurisdiction is a powerful tool to curb impunity. In 2018 alone, it brought under scrutiny over 140 suspects of international crimes.

These positive developments are all the more remarkable given the many political, legal, logistical and budgetary hurdles inherent to universal jurisdiction cases. The 2019 UJAR focuses on the challenges of investigating and prosecuting mass crimes remotely. It also looks at creative solutions that have been found to overcome them.

“Ultimately, we hope that the UJAR will serve as a practical tool to disseminate good practices and inspire judicial actors resorting – or considering resorting – to universal jurisdiction” says Valérie Paulet, Project Coordinator at TRIAL International. “From many of the presented cases, lessons can be drawn and eventually applied to different contexts.”

The Review also shows that cooperation is paramount for the success of universal jurisdiction cases. Survivors, prosecutors, lawyers, investigators, diasporas, NGOs, victims’ associations and media are learning to work together, sometimes in unexpected ways, to offer victims the best chances of justice.

Read the full UJAR here

 

The Universal Jurisdiction Annual Review is TRIAL International’s main legal publication. Researched in collaboration with REDRESS, the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR), the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the International Foundation Baltasar Garzón (FIBGAR), it benefited from the generous support of the City of Geneva, the Oak Foundation and the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy.

 

Read the UJAR 2018

Read the UJAR 2017

Read the UJAR 2016

Read the UJAR 2015

 

Universal jurisdiction is here to stay. In their annual report Make way for justice #4, TRIAL International and its partners FIDH, ECCHR, REDRESS and FIBGAR illustrate the international momentum towards accountability through 58 cases, involving 126 suspects.

 

126 MADE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE GRAVEST CRIMES

Rarely has the fight against impunity been so dynamic. In 2017, countries in Africa, Europe, North America and Latin America have tightened the net on war criminals by resorting to universal jurisdiction.

This principle enables States to prosecute alleged authors of international crimes such as genocide, war crimes, or crimes against humanity, regardless of their nationality or where the crime was committed.

To overcome the specific challenges of universal jurisdiction, a wide number of States have set up specialized war crimes units (WCU). Last year alone, these units reportedly investigated, prosecuted or brought to justice 126 suspects of the gravest crimes.

Many more investigations are ongoing. “States who commit sufficient means to specialized units are leading the fight against impunity today by turning the word justice into action” says Valerie Paulet, Trial Watch coordinator and author of the report.

 

STRENGTHENING THE MEANS TO FIGHT AGAINST IMPUNITY

The Make way for Justice #4 report also points to these achievements’ prerequisites. Strong WCUs have in common sufficient resources and staff and enjoy a high degree of autonomy as well as specialized and diversified State expertise from departments such as the police or immigration.

In contrast, the United Kingdom has, for instance, merged its WCU with counter-terrorism and the work of Swiss’ WCU is weakened by having to share its resources with the mutual judicial assistance’s unit.

Philip Grant, TRIAL International’s director, underlines the need for improved coherence and efficiency in investigating and bringing to justice universal jurisdiction cases. “Prosecution of war crimes requires sufficient resources and independence. States that are lagging behind in implementing universal jurisdiction must step up efforts to equip prosecutors accordingly.”

 

Discover the report

 

Learn more on Universal Jurisdiction

What is universal jurisdiction?
Read Make way for Justice #3 (2017)
Read Make way for Justice #2 (2016)
Read Make way for Justice #1 (2015)

Universal jurisdiction has gathered unprecedented momentum in 2016. In their annual report, TRIAL International and its partners REDRESS, FIDH, ECCHR and FIBGAR look back on its application through 47 recent cases.

Five years of conflict, hundreds of thousands of dead. In Syria, large-scale war crimes are committed in all impunity. Effective prosecution has been repeatedly impeded at the international level, yet justice has found a way forward: universal jurisdiction.

Thanks to this principle, States can prosecute criminals regardless of their nationality or where the crime was committed. The interest of such procedures for lawless regions is obvious.

Last year alone, five States have brought charges for alleged crimes in Syria. Investigations are ongoing in three others. For victims, these proceedings may be their only chance to obtain justice.

Universal jurisdiction has proved a significant tool against impunity in Syria, but it also applies to many more situations: Rwanda, Nepal, Guatemala and Iraq, to name but a few.

 

47 milestone cases in 2016

To illustrate this breadth, TRIAL International, REDRESS, FIDH, ECCHR and FIBGAR release today their annual report on universal jurisdiction, Make way for Justice #3.

In 2016 alone, 13 States have made use of this principle in 47 cases – an unprecedented success. “We registered a 30% increase with respect to 2015, showing that universal jurisdiction is gathering momentum”, says Valérie Paulet, TRIAL’s Legal Consultant and author of the report.

Make way for Justice #3 illustrates the need for States to establish specialized units and equip them with sufficient means. “All the cases in the report prove that justice is achievable when States commit to it.”, concludes Philip Grant, TRIAL International Director.

 

Discover the report

 

Learn more on Universal Jurisdiction

What is universal jurisdiction?
Read Make way for Justice #2 (2016)
Read Make way for Justice #1 (2015)

 

Annual Report on Universal Jurisdiction

TRIAL, FIBGAR, ECCHR and FIDH publish for the second consecutive year their annual report on universal jurisdiction. Make way for Justice #2 reviews criminal cases which have, in 2015, involved this groundbreaking but underused principle.

2015 has seen the opening of the most anticipated trial of our time, that of former Chadian dictator Hissene Habre. After 30 years of impunity, he has finally been judged for the atrocities he has inflicted on his people. This historical trial could not have taken place without a unique legal tool: universal jurisdiction.

Read this news article for more information

Make Way for Justice: Universal Jurisdiction Annual Review 2015

TRIAL, ECCHR and FIDH have published their first annual review of the main universal jurisdiction cases in 2014. “Make Way for Justice” examines all cases in which notable developments occurred in 2014. A total of 37 cases were studied in order to gain a better understanding of the potential of this under-exploited principle in the fight against impunity.

Read this news article for more information