Universal Jurisdiction: The Sierra Leone Profile - Hardcover

by Justice Bankole Thompson (Author)

The doctrine of universal jurisdiction has evolved throughout modern times in the context of global criminal justice as a paramount agent of combating impunity emanating from international criminality. Sierra Leone, as a member of the international community and the United Nations, has, in recent times, been a pioneer in the progressive application and development of international criminal law in the African region. Despite this role, the country's profile, both in terms of the incorporation and application of the doctrine of universal jurisdiction, is deficient in several major respects falling far short of its dual international obligation not to provide safe havens from justice for perpetrators of international crimes and to combat impunity from such criminogenic acts. Hence, a compelling reason for the author to write this book was to provide a seminal scholarly work on the subject articulating the existing state of the law in Sierra Leone and highlighting the deficiencies in the law and factors inhibiting the exercise of universal jurisdiction in this UN member state. It was also to propose necessary substantive and procedural law reforms in the state's jurisprudence on the subject.

The book is recommended reading for practitioners and scholars in international criminal law and related disciplines. Its accessibility is highly enhanced by relevant tables and summaries of each chapter.

Justice Rosolu J.B. Thompson is Professor Emeritus of Criminal Justice Studies, Eastern Kentucky University, USA. He was a member of and Presiding Judge in Trial Chamber I of the Special Court for Sierra Leone.

Back Jacket

This book is about the combating of impunity from international criminality, with a special focus on the role of Sierra Leone as a pioneer in the progressive application of international criminal law in the African region.

Despite Sierra Leone's role, the country's profile, both in terms of the incorporation and application of the doctrine of universal jurisdiction, is deficient in several major respects falling far short of its dual international obligation not to provide safe havens from justice for perpetrators of international crimes and to combat impunity from such crimogenic acts.

Based on his vast experience in this field, the author provides the reader with a seminal scholarly work articulating the existing state of the law in Sierra Leone and highlighting the deficiencies in the law and factors inhibiting the exercise of universal jurisdiction in this UN member state. He also proposes substantive and procedural law reforms in the state's relevant law on the subject.

The book is recommended reading for practitioners and scholars in international criminal law and related disciplines. Its accessibility is highly enhanced by relevant footnotes, tables and summaries of each chapter.

Justice Bankole Thompson holds a Ph.D. in Law from the University of Cambridge. He is Professor Emeritus of Criminal Justice Studies, Eastern Kentucky University, USA. He was a Judge of the Special Court for Sierra Leone. Currently, Justice Thompson is a Judge of the Residual Special Court for Sierra Leone, and a fellow of the Sierra Leone Institute of International Law.