Under the International Criminal Court Act 2001, the UK cannot prosecute crimes against humanity committed abroad unless the suspect is a UK national or resident. This means that perpetrators can escape accountability simply because of their immigration status. Suspects of genocide, war crimes, or crimes against humanity who are not UK nationals or residents are free to visit and transit through the UK, potentially for long periods of time, without any fear of prosecution by UK authorities. This undermines not only justice for victims but also the UK’s international reputation as a champion of human rights and the rule of law.
REDRESS has played a key role in putting universal jurisdiction on the political agenda and building momentum for change. Our legal and advocacy team has been working across media, parliament, and international forums urging the UK Government to amend the ICCA by removing nationality and residence requirements, so that any suspect present in the UK can be prosecuted.
