Countries worldwide can prosecute serious crimes under the principle of universal jurisdiction. Although established after the Second World War, its impact is only beginning to be felt, including in Switzerland. What has driven this breakthrough, and what are the implications? SWI swissinfo.ch explores the developments and their significance for global justice. In Switzerland, a crime can be prosecuted only if it is linked to Switzerland. This means it must either be committed within Swiss borders or involve a suspect or a victim who is a Swiss national. However, under the principle of universal jurisdiction, this requirement is null and void. In cases of serious crimes, any government has the authority to prosecute and press charges, regardless of any direct link to the country. The idea behind this principle is that some crimes are so grave that the entire international community is interested in prosecuting them. Therefore, offences such as war crimes, genocide, crimes against ...
