Universal Jurisdiction

'... meticulously and comprehensively navigates the discourse over a nation-state's authority to prosecute an alleged international criminal ... I am unaware of any other study of universal jurisdiction offering as extensive a compilation and critique of the relevant domestic law.' -The American Journal of International Law

This study is about the ambit of national criminal law. Can a country prosecute and punish a foreigner for a crime committed abroad against another foreigner? Reydams first identifies the international legal issues which arise when a State exercises extraterritorial jurisdiction generally. He then brings together detailed accounts of universal jurisdiction in fourteen countries: Australia; Austria; Belgium; Canada; Denmark; France; Germany; Israel; the Netherlands; Senegal; Spain; Switzerland; the United Kingdom; and the United States.

Readership: Academics, students and practitioners in the field of criminal law, international law, comparative law, human rights law, and international relations. Government lawyers entrusted with the task of reviewing existing legislation, drafting new legislation, adopting treaties, dealing with requests for co-operation in criminal matters, and making extradition arrangements.