Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Universal jurisdiction once again under threat

Sharon Weill and Valentina Azarov, The Electronic Intifada, 10 June 2009



Pressure is being exerted on the Spanish government to amend its legislation regarding universal jurisdiction.

"Currently, the fate of one of the only remaining venues that offers a redress mechanism for Palestinians is at stake. It is one that can bring accountability of Israeli officials and decision-makers who committed war crimes and crimes against humanity. The amendment of universal jurisdiction laws, often incommensurably restricting access to these mechanisms, is at variance with the effect of certain crimes on humanity as a whole, on which the notion of universal jurisdiction is premised. The pressure exerted on the Spanish government to amend its law is an example of the regrettable phenomenon of the weakening of international law at the price of the individual......."

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