Switzerland steps up prosecution of crimes under international law
Published: Wednesday, Feb 14th 2024, 16:10
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Switzerland is stepping up the international prosecution of crimes against international law. Corinne Cicéron Bühler, the Swiss ambassador to the Netherlands, signed an agreement to this effect in The Hague on Wednesday.
The so-called Ljubljana-The Hague Convention obliges states to provide mutual legal assistance in the prosecution of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. It closes a gap in international criminal law and prevents the perpetrators of the worst crimes from going unpunished.
Universal jurisdiction applies to the 80 contracting states: this means that they are responsible for prosecuting crimes under international law if an alleged perpetrator is present on their territory. This applies regardless of whether there is a direct connection or not.
According to the Federal Office of Justice (FOJ), suspected perpetrators of international crimes, victims, witnesses or evidence are often located in several countries. The exchange of information between states is therefore central to the investigation and punishment of international crimes.
The Ljubljana-The Hague Convention is the first multinational instrument regulating intergovernmental cooperation in the prosecution of international crimes. According to the FOJ, there is no need for Switzerland to legislate. The content corresponds to Swiss mutual legal assistance law and several international mutual legal assistance agreements to which Switzerland has already acceded.
Switzerland is hoping for improved legal assistance from other countries when it conducts corresponding criminal proceedings. Parliament still has to approve the convention. The International Court of Justice, the judicial body of the United Nations (UN), is located in The Hague in the Netherlands.
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