Qatar attaches “special importance” to the issue of universal jurisdiction “as it is one of the principles of international law and a mechanism of the rule of law that secures fair justice and combats impunity for crimes and serious violations of international law and international humanitarian and human rights law”.

A statement delivered by Ghanim Abdullah al-Ghanim, member of Qatar’s delegation participating in the 68th UN General Assembly’s meeting for legal committee on “The scope and application of the principle of universal jurisdiction”, welcomed the committee’s continued discussions on the scope and application of the principle of universal
jurisdiction. 

Al-Ghanim noted that the issue should be explored further within the framework of international law and conventions “that have been reached in this regard and that special interest should be awarded to the
applicable international rules”.

He stressed that Qatar believed that “team work should seek to identify areas, where there are consensus among member states as well as those which need further examination and continued consolations”. 

Al-Ghanim said that perpetrators exploited loopholes in the international conventions related to  humanitarian and human rights laws in order to continue their crimes and
escape from punishment.

He stressed the importance of determining the scope of universal jurisdiction to apply it on the most serious crimes of concern to the international community and bringing perpetrators to justice “in a way that ensures justice for victims to send a clear message that no one is above the law”. “This is of extreme importance to the international community if we wish to have a secure and peaceful world”, he added.

 

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