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28Apr10

Information submitted by Ethiopia on the scope and application of the principle of universal jurisdiction in accordance with General Assembly resolution 64/117

PERMANENT MISSION OF THE FEDERAL
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA
TO THE UNITED NATIONS

Ref. No:- EPM/099/10

866 Second Avenue, 3rd Floor • New York, N.Y. 10017

The Executive Office of
the Secretary General of the United Nations
New York

The Permanent Mission of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to the United Nations presents its compliments to the Secretary General of the United Nations and has the honor to refers to the latter's Note. No LA/COD/59 dated 8 January 2010, requesting member states to submit, before April 30, information and observations on the scope and application of the principle of universal jurisdiction.

In this regard, the Mission wishes to inform the Secretariat that the principle of universal jurisdiction is enshrined in the Ethiopian Penal Code. Accordingly, Article 17 (1) of the penal code stipulates that any person who has committed a crime against international law or an international crime specified in Ethiopian legislation, or an international treaty or a convention to which Ethiopia has adhered; or with respect to a crime against public healht or, morals specified in Article 525 (producing, making, trafficking in or using persons or narcotic and psychotropic substance), Art. 599 (participation of illegal associations and juridical persons in crimes specified in the code), Art. 635 (trafficking in women and minors), Art. 636 (aggravated of crimes), Art. 640 (obscene or indecent publications), Art. 641 (obscene or indecent performances) shall be in trial, in Ethiopia unless a final judgment has been given after being prosecuted in the foreign country. However, Ethiopia applies the principle of universal jurisdiction with strict adherence to the principle of subsidiarity as specified under Article 19 and 20(2) of the penal code. In practice, Ethiopia attaches significant value to this legal principle, which is different from the application of the principle by some European countries that integrated the principle and apply it generally in their national judicial system.

The Permanent Mission of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to the United Nations avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Secretary General of the United Nations the assurance of its highest consideration.

[Source: The Permanent Mission of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to the United Nations, New York, 28Apr10. Published by the Sixth Committee (Legal) of the General Assembly of the United Nations.]

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This document has been published on 28Jan16 by the Equipo Nizkor and Derechos Human Rights. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.