Universal Jurisdiction & Legal Pathways to Accountability

உலகளாவிய அதிகார வரம்பு மற்றும் பொறுப்புக்கூறலுக்கான சட்ட வழிமுறைகள்

This dossier aggregates evidence on the ongoing pursuit of international criminal justice for atrocity crimes in Sri Lanka, focusing on universal jurisdiction and legal avenues for accountability outside of Sri Lanka. It details the mechanisms, actors, and evidence underpinning current and potential future prosecutions.

This dossier compiles evidence from international human rights organisations, legal advocacy groups, and scholarly analyses regarding universal jurisdiction (UJ) and other legal pathways for accountability in Sri Lanka. It highlights the sustained efforts to collect and preserve survivor testimony, as well as the strategic advocacy efforts in third-state jurisdictions. The dossier matters because it demonstrates the critical role of international legal frameworks and transnational civil society in holding perpetrators of grave crimes accountable when domestic justice mechanisms fail. It illustrates the enduring commitment to justice despite the passage of time and the absence of a viable domestic process. The strongest citations establish a robust and continuing evidentiary base, particularly through the work of ITJP, which collects survivor testimony for universal jurisdiction investigations. Organisations like PEARL and USTPAC are shown to actively advocate in relevant national and international fora, providing policy and legal briefings to support these efforts. The inclusion of Groundviews indicates that the conversation around universal jurisdiction is also present within Sri Lankan civil society. Open questions include the ultimate efficacy of these legal pathways given the complexities of international law and diplomacy, and the challenge of translating extensive evidence into successful criminal prosecutions.

Citations