4 November 2020

Marco Roscini for BBC Mundo about the UN report on Venezuela

Professor Marco Roscini, Professor of International Law at the University of Westminster, was interviewed by BBC Mundo about the UN report.

Marco Roscini standing infront of green trees

Professor Roscini explains that there are three possible scenarios after the publication of the report, the first being that the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, which investigates and prosecutes cases of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity is involved.

He said: "This report speaks of crimes against humanity of various levels: extrajudicial executions, arbitrary detentions, torture, etc. These are crimes that the ICC can prosecute. But they have to be of sufficient gravity. It is unlikely that the ICC will agree to prosecute one case of torture or two.”

He added: “Then, if the investigators collect evidence of grave enough crimes, of cases of crimes against humanity committed as a state policy or torture used as a political tool, a case is opened.”

The article writes: “In the long term, the UN report will have consequences for Maduro, Cabello and the other officials involved, according to the professor at the University of Westminster.”

Roscini said: "When it comes to such serious crimes, there is also what is known as universal jurisdiction. According to international law, any court in the world could initiate investigations and prosecutions against these people, even if they are in another country and if the crime was committed abroad."

Read the full article on the BBC News website
  

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