Universal Jurisdiction as a tool against impunity: a commitment reaffirmed in Bogotá
Yesterday, the Joint Declaration on the Conclusion of the Emergency Conference on Palestine, convened by the Hague Group, was adopted in Bogotá. This marks a significant moment in the fight against international impunity, as more than thirty countries, brought together at the initiative of the Governments of Colombia and South Africa, gathered to coordinate legal measures aimed at halting the genocide in the Gaza Strip.
At FIBGAR, we welcome this declaration as a crucial step forward in international efforts to secure justice for victims and prevent future atrocities. We are especially proud to have contributed to the inclusion of paragraph 6 of the Declaration, which reaffirms support for the principle of universal jurisdiction as a legitimate and necessary tool for the protection of human rights:
“Support the mandates of universal jurisdiction, as and where applicable in our constitutional and judicial legal frameworks, to ensure justice for all victims and the prevention of future crimes in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”
This collective commitment sends a clear message: international law must not remain a set of abstract principles applied selectively or subordinated to geopolitical interests. In light of the growing and credible reports of international crimes being committed in Gaza—including acts that may constitute genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity—it is imperative to activate all available mechanisms to guarantee truth, justice, and reparations.
The principle of universal jurisdiction allows national courts to prosecute serious international crimes regardless of where they were committed or the nationality of the victims or perpetrators. It is grounded in the understanding that certain crimes affect all of humanity, creating a shared international obligation to prosecute them. When traditional international mechanisms fail—due to paralysis in the Security Council, inaction by international courts, or the refusal of responsible states to ensure accountability—universal jurisdiction becomes a crucial route to prevent victims from being abandoned to oblivion and impunity.
The war in Gaza has starkly revealed the structural limitations of the multilateral system. Despite warnings from the United Nations, human rights organisations and independent experts, the international community has been unable to stop the violence or trigger effective accountability mechanisms. In this context, the Bogotá Conference is a strong and timely move toward coordinated action from the Global South. The participating states understood that this is not merely a regional crisis but a tragedy that concerns all of humanity. Their explicit support for universal jurisdiction as a tool to address crimes in Palestine recognises the transformative power of law when applied with consistency, political will, and courage.
At FIBGAR, we have actively promoted the use of universal jurisdiction as a key instrument of global justice since our foundation. We have supported litigation, contributed to legal reforms, trained legal practitioners, and engaged in international networks for strategic coordination. Our experience shows that this principle is not a theoretical abstraction, but a real and effective possibility—when proper legal frameworks exist and there is a genuine commitment to uphold human rights. Landmark cases such as the prosecution of Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet in Spain, or the more recent trials of Syrian officials in European courts, illustrate how this principle can serve as a shield against atrocity and a beacon of hope for victims.
The explicit mention of universal jurisdiction in the Bogotá Declaration reaffirms our commitment to advancing this principle: to promote its incorporation in more national legal systems, and to ensure its effective, accessible, and transparent implementation. This is not only about justice for Gaza; it is about building a model of international law that truly serves victims, beyond borders, and without exceptions or privileges.
The adoption of this declaration must not remain a symbolic act. Now is the time to translate these commitments into concrete actions. Signatory states must review their national legislation, equip their judicial systems with the necessary resources, facilitate international cooperation, protect witnesses and victims, and work alongside civil society organisations that have been documenting crimes and building cases for years.
At FIBGAR, we offer our technical expertise, our network of allies, and our ethical commitment to support all those—institutions, legal actors, and civil society—who seek to move forward on this path. We firmly believe that universal jurisdiction is an essential tool for a more just international order, and that only through its consistent and strategic use can we break the cycle of impunity that enables atrocities to recur.
The Joint Declaration adopted in Bogotá is a call to action. But it is also a reaffirmation of universal principles: that international law must be applied equally; that justice cannot depend on a person’s nationality or political power; and that the suffering of victims cannot be ignored by the international community.
Universal jurisdiction represents a promise—the promise that no crime will go unpunished and that all victims—regardless of their origin, religion, or passport—will have access to justice. At FIBGAR, we will continue working to ensure that this promise becomes the norm, not the exception. Because only with justice can there be peace, and only with memory can a dignified future be built.
