New contributions arising from the workshop on universal jurisdiction and international crimes in the Asia-Pacific region
In May 2026, Griffith Law School and the Griffith Asia Institute, in collaboration with FIBGAR and the Asia Justice Coalition, organised the international workshop ‘Prosecuting Asia-Pacific International Crimes in Domestic Courts’ in Brisbane.
The event brought together experts, academics, legal professionals, civil society organisations and human rights defenders to analyse the challenges and opportunities posed by the investigation and prosecution of international crimes in national courts across the Asia-Pacific region.
The initiative took place as part of the project ‘Rethinking Universal Jurisdiction: Contemporary Challenges and Recommendations to Strengthen the Fight against Impunity’, through which FIBGAR works to promote the exchange of experiences and knowledge on universal jurisdiction and other mechanisms to combat impunity.
Over the course of the two-day event, participants addressed various issues relating to the domestic prosecution of international crimes, paying particular attention to the specific challenges posed by accountability in the Asia-Pacific region.
The discussions provided an opportunity to exchange experiences on the use of universal jurisdiction, the choice of the most appropriate forum for advancing cases involving international crimes, the role of victims and the organisations supporting them, as well as the opportunities and limitations of national justice mechanisms.
The workshop also provided an opportunity to analyse specific situations, including proceedings relating to Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Afghanistan, and to reflect on broader issues, such as the future of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Humanity and its potential implications for the prevention and prosecution of such crimes.
Beyond strictly legal issues, the meeting highlighted the importance of taking into account the political and institutional contexts in which these processes take place. The capacity of national systems to investigate and prosecute international crimes also depends on factors such as political will, the existence of appropriate legal frameworks, victims’ access to justice, and the capacity of civil society to drive and support these processes.
Following on from the discussions held in Brisbane, the contributions arising from the workshop have been compiled in a special symposium published by Opinio Juris.
The various articles explore some of the key themes addressed during the meeting and offer perspectives from different national and regional contexts. Taken together, the contributions help to broaden the debate on the possibilities and challenges of using national systems to advance accountability for international crimes.
Among the topics covered are universal jurisdiction as a tool for holding perpetrators to account, the choice of forum in universal jurisdiction cases, the central role of victims, forced displacement in Myanmar, accountability for crimes committed in Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, and the implications of a future Convention on Crimes against Humanity.
Published contributions
Introduction – International crimes in the Asia-Pacific region before national courts.
Read the article
Universal jurisdiction and the pursuit of accountability in the Asia-Pacific region.
Read the article
Reflections on the prosecution of international crimes before national courts in the Asia-Pacific region and Europe.
Read the article
The centrality of victims and accountability in Sri Lanka.
Read the article
Universal jurisdiction: a means of holding the Taliban and other actors to account for international crimes.
Read the article
The value of universal jurisdiction efforts in addressing forced displacement in Myanmar.
Read the article
Choosing justice: forum selection in universal jurisdiction cases.
Read the article
The Convention on Crimes against Humanity and the obligation to prevent.
Read the article
Universal jurisdiction under the future Convention on Crimes against Humanity.
Read the article
A formal indictment, a hearing, the laying of charges and an acquittal: this is what justice really looks like.
Read the article
Beyond borders: from local truth to global justice.
Read the article
For FIBGAR, this publication provides an opportunity to build on the dialogue initiated in Brisbane and to continue fostering the exchange of experiences amongst professionals, organisations and specialists from different regions.
The collaboration with Griffith Law School, the Griffith Asia Institute and the Asia Justice Coalition created a space for dialogue between different perspectives and experiences regarding the prosecution of international crimes in national courts. The work carried out during the meeting demonstrates the value of such exchanges in identifying common obstacles, sharing strategies and exploring new ways to strengthen accountability mechanisms.
The publication of these contributions does not, therefore, mark the end of the debate that began in Brisbane, but rather a new step in an ongoing conversation. Continuing to bring together experiences from the Asia-Pacific, Europe and other regions is essential for advancing more effective responses to impunity and for strengthening the tools available to victims of international crimes.
FIBGAR extends its special thanks to Griffith Law School and the Griffith Asia Institute for their work in promoting and organising this event, as well as to the Asia Justice Coalition for its collaboration in creating this space for exchange and reflection.
