{"id":27763,"date":"2026-10-29T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-29T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fibgar.es\/?p=27763"},"modified":"2026-10-29T15:13:23","modified_gmt":"2026-10-29T14:13:23","slug":"universal-jurisdiction-a-tool-against-impunity-at-a-time-of-pressure-on-international-justice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fibgar.es\/en\/universal-jurisdiction-a-tool-against-impunity-at-a-time-of-pressure-on-international-justice\/","title":{"rendered":"Universal jurisdiction: a tool against impunity at a time of pressure on international justice"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The Baltasar Garz\u00f3n International Foundation (FIBGAR) will host a virtual conversation on universal jurisdiction on Tuesday 17 November 2026<\/strong>. This tool is one of the most powerful for prosecuting the gravest crimes, yet it remains underused and often misunderstood. The event will bring together four specialists from Latin America, Europe, Africa and Asia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The event comes at a delicate moment. The international justice system is under growing pressure, with sanctions against the International Criminal Court and increasingly fragile cooperation between States. In this context, universal jurisdiction has once again become central to the debate on how to ensure that the most atrocious crimes do not go unpunished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A tool born to fight impunity<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Universal jurisdiction allows the courts of one country to investigate and prosecute crimes such as genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and torture. They can do so even when the acts took place elsewhere and neither the perpetrators nor the victims are nationals of that country. It rests on a simple idea: some crimes are so serious that they affect all of humanity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belgium and Spain were pioneers in applying it ambitiously. In 1993, Belgium passed one of the broadest laws of its kind in the world. In 1998, Judge Baltasar Garz\u00f3n issued from Spain the arrest warrant against Augusto Pinochet in London, a case that marked a turning point in international justice. Both countries later restricted their laws under political pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, universal jurisdiction has continued to gain ground. Courts in various countries have tried crimes committed in Syria, Rwanda, Liberia and Myanmar. Today it is a key avenue for victims who cannot find justice in their own countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current challenges and perspectives from four regions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Despite its potential, universal jurisdiction faces significant obstacles. These include a lack of political will, scarce resources for investigations, the difficulty of gathering evidence far from where the crimes took place, and immunities. Added to this is the criticism that it is applied selectively, particularly by countries of the Global North.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To address these issues, the conversation will bring together a range of regional and professional perspectives:<\/p>\n\n\n\n