If a crime is committed internationally, which country has the right to prosecute you: the country that you live in or the country where you committed the crime? This is the controversial question of universal jurisdiction – a principle in public international law, that permits any state to try the person that committed international crimes. Crimes that are committed beyond the borders of the country someone lives in are especially difficult. This article examines this question by focusing on the role universal jurisdiction plays on international law.
Hampson, Francoise. “Universal Jurisdiction”. Crimes of War. July 2010. http://www.crimesofwar.org/thebook/jurisdiction-universal.html
Universal Jurisdiction The Challenges for Police and Prosecuting Authorities
There are many challenges to addressing organized crime. Some of the challenges of stopping organized crime include inadequate legislation and laws, uninformed police forces, lack of political will to enforce laws, and affairs and crimes. All of these issues and numerous more pose a serious threat to efforts being made to combat organized crime throughout the world. This report by Amnesty International specifically looks at the history of addressing organized crime and what measures need to be taken in order to combat modern cases of organized crime.
“Universal Jurisdiction The Challenges for Police and Prosecuting Authorities”. Amnesty International. 13 June 2007. July 2010. http://www.amnestyusa.org/document.php?lang=e&id=ENGIOR530072007
Prosecuting Human Trafficking Cases: Lessons Learned and Promising Practices
Human trafficking is a huge industry and international efforts, such as the passing of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), are being made to end it. Measures need to be taken at both a federal and national level to improve legislation regarding human trafficking. This report takes the best practices and lessons learned from past cases to improve laws regarding human trafficking and promote international peace, uphold human rights, and ultimately gain more clarity on the steps needed to end this modern-day slavery.
Clawson, Heather J. Dutch, Nicole. Lopez, Susan. Tiapula, Suzanna. ” Prosecuting Human Trafficking Cases: Lessons Learned and Promising Practices”. ICF International. September 2008. July 2010. (Executive Summary i-ix) http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/223972.pdf
Confronting the Challenges of Organized Crime in Mexico and Latin America
The Woodrow Wilson Center was established in honor of President Woodrow Wilson to “provide a link between the world of ideas and the world of policy”. The Latin America Program, as well as the Mexico Institute, are branches of the Woodrow Wilson Center which serve as a bridge between the United States and Latin America. This conference report by the Woodrow Wilson Center reviews some of the many technicalities in the fight against organized crimes such as weapons trade, money laundering, corruption, and law enforcement.
Donnelly, Robert. Eric, Olson L. ” Confronting the Challenges of Organized Crime in Mexico and Latin America”. July 2010. http://www.wilsoncenter.org/news/docs/Confronting Challenges of Organized Crime- Eric Olson Robert Donnelly.pdf
Prosecuting Terrorism: The Global Challenge
The International Criminal Police Organization, or INTERPOL, is an international intelligence agency that operates throughout the world. One of their high priorities is terrorism. Ronald K. Noble, the Secretary General of Interpol, said that he has major concern with the national and international response to terrorism in terms of current laws.
Noble, Ronald K. “Prosecuting Terrorism: The Global Challenge”. INTERPOL. 2009. July 2010. http://www.interpol.int/public/ICPO/speeches/SG20040604.asp