Universal Jurisdiction

This will be a busy fall for French courts.  Two major cases are testing France’s approach towards international justice. First, Roger Lumbala Tshitenga, a former Congolese warlord accused of crimes against humanity during the Second Congo War, is set to go on trial in November through December. Second, Eugene Rwamucyo, a former doctor accused of complicity in…

Introduction In April and May 2025, the International Law Commission (ILC) is due to discuss, and possibly adopt on second reading, the Draft Articles on immunity of state officials from foreign criminal jurisdiction, adopted on first reading in 2022. During its session, the ILC will examine amendments to draft articles 7 to18 and an Annex…

Three years after Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the widespread activation of universal and other forms of extraterritorial jurisdiction to prosecute international crimes committed in the war calls for an evaluation. What has been achieved so far and what could be done better? Despite the stated commitment of Ukraine’s allies to complement the justice efforts in…

In November 2021, the Criminal Chamber of the French Cour de cassation, shocked the international criminal law community (see here and here) by considering that French courts did not have jurisdiction over crimes against humanity committed in Syria because Syria was not party to the Rome Statute and did…