The United Nations Principles to Combat Impunity: A Commentary

Completed in March 2018

Beginning with the post-World War II Nuremberg and Tokyo trials and gaining momentum since the 1990s, a global anti-impunity discourse has increasingly shaped international law and practice. This marks a shift away from the traditional practice of amnesty towards holding individuals accountable for international crimes.

The United Nations Set of Principles for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights Through Action to Combat Impunity (UN Principles) can be seen as a reflection of this global anti-impunity movement. Originally drafted by Louis Joinet and updated by Diane Orentlicher in 2005, the UN Principles are today widely accepted as constituting an authoritative reference point for efforts in the fight against impunity for gross human rights and serious international humanitarian law violations.

As a comprehensive attempt to ‘codify’ universal accountability norms, the UN Principles marked a significant step forward in the debate on the obligation of states to combat impunity in its various forms. Despite this significance, no comprehensive academic commentary of the 38 principles has yet been provided so far. This project seeks to fill this gap. It aims to provide a companion to the document, setting out the text of the UN Principles and their detailed commentaries, with a full introduction and guide to the relevant literature and case law.

Research Team

The volume, published by Oxford University Press, was prepared under the editorship of Frank Haldemann and Thomas Unger, in collaboration with Valentina Cadelo.

NEWS

Cover page of the book News

The United Nations Principles to Combat Impunity: A Commentary

27 March 2018

This new book, edited by the two Co-Directors of our Master of Advanced Studies in Transitional Justice, Human Rights and the Rule of Law, Frank Haldemann and Thomas Unger, provides an unmatched analysis of the United Nations Principles to Combat Impunity.

Read more >

Publications

Cover page of the book

The United Nations Principles to Combat Impunity: A Commentary

March 2018

Frank Haldemann, Thomas Unger

Oxford University Press

View More >

MORE ON THIS THEMATIC AREA

Students at a Geneva Academy event News

Chats with Our Student Office: A Gateway for Prospective Students

28 August 2023

We organize online Q&A information sessions for prospective students interested in our LLM in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights and MAS in Transitional Justice, Human Rights and the Rule of Law.

Read more

Portrait of Professor Claudia Martin News

Our New Visiting Fellow: Professor Claudia Martin

30 June 2023

Professor Claudia Martin just started as Visiting Fellow at the Geneva Academy and will stay with us until the end of July. She tells us in this interview the focus of her research during her time at the Geneva Academy.

Read more

Cover page of the book Event

The Complementarity Turn: Domestic Justice in the Shadow of International Criminal Tribunals

16 October 2023, 16:00-17:30

In this book launch, Patryk Labuda will discuss with leading experts and practitioners his new book International Criminal Tribunals and Domestic Accountability. In The Court’s Shadow.

Read more

Al Mahdi case: ICC Trial Chamber VIII issues reparations order, 17 August 2017 Short Course

International Criminal Law: General Principles and International Crimes

22 November - 1 December 2023

This online short course reviews the origins of international criminal law, its relationship with the international legal order including the UN Security Council and its coexistence with national justice institutions. The scope of international crimes – genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression – is considered alongside initiatives to expand or add to these categories.

Read more

cover of the publication Publication

Towards Global Transitional Justice?

published on January 2022

Olivier de Frouville

Read more