La jurisdicción universal en España tras la reforma de 2009: ¿Racionalización del principio o un paso atrás en la lucha contra la impunidad?

Abstract

Universal jurisdiction is one of the most controversial issues in International Law. In the last decade, Spain took the lead in seeking accountability for the most serious international crimes, due to its broad legislation and the expansive application of the universality principle by some of its judges and courts, an application which was not always accepted by the whole Spanish judiciary. Just as Belgium did in 2003, Spain has recently modified its national legislation in order to limit the exercise of universal jurisdiction by its courts, requiring that there now be a «connecting link» with the crime. This article examines the changes introduced in Spanish law within the overall context of the general ongoing debate about the principle of universal jurisdiction. Only in the light of this debate is it possible to evaluate the Spanish legislation and consider its possible implications.