EVRENSEL YARGININ SAVAŞ SUÇLARINA UYGULANMASININ BAZI HUKUKİ YÖNLERİ

Savaş suçları üzerinde evrensel yargı yetkisinin uygulanması bir dizi soruya yanıt gerektirir: Uluslararası hukuka göre hangi suçlar savaş suçu olarak kabul edilir? Savaş suçları üzerinde evrensel yargı yetkisinin uygulanması konusunda fikir birliği var mı? Savaş suçlarının evrensel yargı yetkisi altında kovuşturulması bir devletin hakkı mı yoksa görevi midir? Savaş suçları üzerindeki evrensel yargı yetkisinin uygulanması forum devletiyle herhangi bir bağlantı gerektiriyor mu? Devlet yetkilileri savaş suçları nedeniyle yabancı devletler tarafından evrensel yargı yetkisi altında yargılanmaktan muaf tutuluyor mu? Evrensel yargı yetkisinin uygulanmasının makul olup olmadığına karar verirken hangi değer daha ağır basmalıdır - savaş suçu faillerinin cezasızlığını önlemek veya yabancı devletlerle istikrarlı ve güvenli uluslararası ilişkiler sağlamak? Uluslararası suçlarla mücadelede evrensellik ilkesinin daha fazla etkinliğini sağlamak için ne tür önlemler alınmalıdır? Bu sorular başlıca sorulardır, ancak kapsamlı değildir ve cevaplar hem teorik hem de pratik öneme sahiptir. Bu makalede uluslararası hukukun ilgili normlarını, uluslararası mahkemelerin kararlarını, devletlerin mevzuatı ve içtihatlarını, ve ayrıca yasal doktrini analiz ederek bu sorulara cevap bulmaya çalışacağız. Makalede önemli bir yer evrensel yargı yetkisinin uygulanmasına ilişkin sınırlamalara ve bu sınırlamaların mevcut ilkenin gelecekteki perspektifini nasıl etkileyebileceği ile ilişkin sorulara ayrılmıştır. Makalede evrensellik ilkesinin uygulanmasındaki daha fazla sınırlamanın onun hukuki bir kavram olarak anlamını yitirmesine yol açabileceği ve bu alanda tek bir sözleşmenin kabul edilmesinin bu ilkenin uluslararası suçlarla mücadeledeki önemli rolünü korumanın olası bir yolu olduğu sonucuna varılmıştır.

SOME LEGAL ASPECTS OF APPLICATION OF UNIVERSAL JURISDICTION OVER WAR CRIMES

The application of universal jurisdiction over war crimes requires responses to a number of questions: Which crimes under international law are considered war crimes? Is there consensus regarding the application of universal jurisdiction over war crimes? Is the prosecution of war crimes under universal jurisdiction the right or the duty of a state? Does the application of universal jurisdiction over war crimes require any connection to the forum state? Do the state officials enjoy immunities from being prosecuted by foreign states under universal jurisdiction for war crimes? Which value should outweigh in deciding of reasonableness of application of universal jurisdiction – to prevent the impunity of the perpetrators of war crimes or to ensure stable and secure international relations with the foreign states? What measures should be taken to ensure further efficiency of universality principle in combatting international crimes? These questions are the major ones, but not exhaustive and the answers to them have both theoretical and practical importance. In this article we will try to find answers to those questions analyzing the relevant norms of international law, the decisions of the international courts, the legislation and case-law of the states, as well as the legal doctrine. Significant place in the article is allocated to the questions related to the limitations on application of universal jurisdiction and how these limitations could affect the future perspective of this principle. Findings reached in the article are that further limitations on application of universality principle can lead to loss of its meaning as a legal concept and adoption of a single convention in this field is the possible way out to preserve the important role of this principle in fighting international crimes.

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