Economist Podcasts Trial ensnarer: human-rights law’s new tool
Jan 13, 2021
Zanny Minton Beddoes, Editor-at-large at The Economist, and Callum Williams, Senior economics writer, tackle urgent topics today. They dive into the rise of universal jurisdiction trials, highlighting a pivotal German case against a Syrian war criminal. With a focus on human rights justice, they discuss how international law seeks to hold violators accountable. On the economic front, they also analyze the lesser impact of recent lockdowns on global economies and the struggles Cambodian rat-catchers face in adapting to changing market conditions.
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Human Rights Abuses & Jurisdictional Challenges
- Human Rights Watch's annual report reveals widespread human rights abuses globally.
- Bringing perpetrators to justice is challenging due to jurisdictional disputes between nations.
Universal Jurisdiction Example: Anwar Raslan
- Anwar Raslan, a Syrian policeman, is being tried in Germany under universal jurisdiction.
- This allows Germany to prosecute crimes committed elsewhere, like Raslan's alleged torture and murder of Syrians.
Pinochet's Case: Universal Jurisdiction Landmark
- Universal jurisdiction gained prominence with Augusto Pinochet's case in 1998.
- While in London, a Spanish judge requested his arrest for crimes committed in Chile, highlighting the principle.