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How does universal jurisdiction allow national courts to prosecute genocide committed in another country?

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Railway tracks lead to the brick entrance building and guard tower of Auschwitz Birkenau concentration camp near Oswiecim, Poland. — Genocide Freight train tracks leading to Auschwitz-Birkenau, Nazi Germany's largest concentration camp, near Oświęcim, Poland.

Under international law, the principle of universal jurisdiction allows national courts to prosecute individuals for genocide regardless of where the crime was committed or the nationality of the offenders or victims.12

While most national criminal justice systems are generally limited to prosecuting crimes committed within their own territory or by their own nationals, this rule has been relaxed for specific international crimes, including genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. Because these offenses are considered international in nature, they are recognized as crimes that any country may try.21

This jurisdictional basis serves as a critical mechanism for accountability, as it ensures that perpetrators cannot evade justice simply by crossing borders. However, the exercise of this power can be complex; for instance, international law generally protects sitting heads of state from prosecution by foreign national courts, a limitation that has led to diplomatic tensions and modifications in national legislation regarding the scope of such trials.2