FACULTEIT RECHTSGELEERDHEID UNIVERSITEIT GENT Academiejaar 2015-2016 Universal Jurisdiction: an analysis from a comparative and international law perspective A future for universal jurisdiction over serious crimes under international law? Masterproef van de opleiding ‘Master in de rechten’ Ingediend door Joke Ruelens (studentennr. 19992425) Promotor: Prof. dr. Tom Ruys Commissaris: Alexandra Hofer Acknowledgements I would like to thank Prof. dr. Tom Ruys for his guidance and feedback. I would like to thank Manuel Vergara Céspedes of the legal department of the Fundación Internacional Baltasar Garzón for his advice and the useful documents provided. I would like to thank my family and friends for their constant support during these five years of combining legal studies with more than a fulltime job. Table of Contents INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................................... 1 PART 1 ..................................................................................................................................................................... 3 CONCEPT, ORIGINS, HISTORY AND PRINCIPLES OF UNIVERSAL JURISDICTION ...................................................... 3 CHAPTER 1 ............................................................................................................................................................ 4 CONCEPT OF UNIVERSAL JURISDICTION ......................................................................................................................... 4 1.1 Other types of jurisdiction .................................................................................................................... 4 1.1.1 Territorial jurisdiction ........................................................................................................................................ 4 1.1.2 Nationality jurisdiction ...................................................................................................................................... 5 1.1.2.1 Active personality ...................................................................................................................................... 5 1.1.2.2 Passive personality .................................................................................................................................... 5 1.1.3 Protective jurisdiction........................................................................................................................................ 6 1.2 Universal jurisdiction ............................................................................................................................ 7 1.2.1 General .............................................................................................................................................................. 7 1.2.2 The Lotus Principle ............................................................................................................................................ 9 1.2.3 Questions concerning the exercise of universal jurisdiction over serious crimes under international law .... 10 CHAPTER 2 .......................................................................................................................................................... 12 ORIGINS AND HISTORY OF UNIVERSAL JURISDICTION ..................................................................................................... 12 2.1 Origins of universal jurisdiction .......................................................................................................... 12 2.1.1 Piracy ............................................................................................................................................................... 12 2.1.2 Slavery ............................................................................................................................................................. 14 2.2 Developments pertaining to universal jurisdiction after the Second World War ............................... 16 2.2.1 Nuremberg and Tokyo ..................................................................................................................................... 16 2.2.1.1 Nuremberg .............................................................................................................................................. 16 2.2.1.2 Tokyo ....................................................................................................................................................... 17 2.2.2 War crimes ...................................................................................................................................................... 18 2.2.3 Crimes against peace ....................................................................................................................................... 19 2.2.4 Crimes against humanity ................................................................................................................................. 20 2.2.5 The crime of torture ........................................................................................................................................ 22 2.2.6 The crime of enforced disappearances of persons .......................................................................................... 23 2.2.7 The crime of genocide ..................................................................................................................................... 25 CHAPTER 3 .......................................................................................................................................................... 28 PRINCIPLES OF UNIVERSAL JURISDICTION .................................................................................................................... 28 3.1 The Princeton Principles on Universal Jurisdiction ................................................................................. 28 3.1.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................... 28 3.1.2 Principles ......................................................................................................................................................... 29 3.2 The Cairo - Arusha Principles on Universal Jurisdiction in Respect of Gross Human Rights Offences: An African Perspective ................................................................................................................................. 31 3.2.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................... 31 3.2.2 Principles ......................................................................................................................................................... 32 3.3 The Madrid – Buenos Aires Principles on Universal Jurisdiction ............................................................ 34 3.3.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................... 34 3.3.2 Principles ......................................................................................................................................................... 35 PART 2 ................................................................................................................................................................... 37 UNIVERSAL JURISDICTION AROUND THE WORLD IN THE PAST QUARTER CENTURY .......................................... 37 NOTE .................................................................................................................................................................. 38 CHAPTER 1 .......................................................................................................................................................... 39 EUROPE ............................................................................................................................................................... 39 1.1 Spain................................................................................................................................................... 39 1.1.1 Spanish legislation concerning universal jurisdiction ...................................................................................... 39 1.1.2 Case law .................................................................................................................................................... 40 1.1.2.1 Scilingo .................................................................................................................................................... 40 1.1.2.2 Pinochet .................................................................................................................................................. 42 1.1.2.3 Ríos Montt ............................................................................................................................................... 46 1.1.2.4 The Tibet Case ......................................................................................................................................... 49 1.2 Belgium .............................................................................................................................................