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21 Int'l Trade & Bus. L. Rev. 177 (2018)
Universal Jurisdiction and Syria: A Treaty Based Expansion of Universal Jurisdiction as a Solution to Impunity

handle is hein.journals/itbla21 and id is 181 raw text is: 177 UNIVERSAL JURISDICTION AND SYRIA: A TREATY BASED EXPANSION OF UNIVERSAL JURISDICTION AS A SOLUTION TO IMPUNITY Shelby Black* ABSTRACT Syrian Conflict - International Law - International Criminal Court - United Nations Security Council - War Crimes - Universal Jurisdiction - Impunity Calls for justice in the Syrian conflict continue to fall on deaf ears while serious war crimes continue to occur. The outcome of the Syrian conflict remains uncertain while impunity festers in gaps left by the international criminal justice system. Syria is not subject to the International Criminal Court ('ICC), the Security Council is in a continuing deadlock, and Syrian domestic 'courts offer no promise of fair and impartial proceedings. On this backdrop, the international community must structure a coordinated legal response to facilitate the prosecution of crimes committed in the Syrian conflict. The time is right for concerned nations to come together to share their understandings and commitments to universal jurisdiction, and to confirm the prospect ofprosecution to potential war criminals arising from the Syrian civil war. This article explores the shortfalls of the Syrian domestic courts and other institutions to adequately deal with these war criminals. The article endeavours to combat impunity across the globe by suggesting a new type of treaty, rooted in the principle of universal jurisdiction. * Judge Advocate General, United States Navy, Licenced Tennessee Attorney, University of Tennessee Alumni, United States of America. I thank Robert C Blitt, Professor of Law at the University of Tennessee, for his participation in my research. This article is the original work of the author and all omissions and errors are the author's responsibility. This article is not to be taken as representing the views of the United States Navy or the United States Government.