Universal Jurisdiction

Universal jurisdiction is a legal principle that allows countries to prosecute individuals for serious crimes—such as genocide, war crimes, or crimes against humanity—regardless of where the crimes occurred or the nationality of the perpetrators or victims. It is based on the idea that certain crimes are so severe they affect all of humanity and should never be ignored. This means a country can bring someone to trial at home, even if the crime happened elsewhere or involves foreign nationals. It aims to ensure accountability for egregious offenses that threaten global human rights standards.