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Att sikta mot folkrätten - En granskning av den svenska straffrättsliga jurisdiktionens folkrättsliga motiv

Unell, Emil LU (2024) JURM02 20241
Department of Law
Faculty of Law
Abstract
On 1 January 2022 an extensive reform of Chapter 2 of the Swedish Criminal Code, which contains rules pertaining to criminal jurisdiction, entered into force. This reform carried with it major changes in both structure and material content and was partially intended to align Swedish law more closely with international law on the matter of criminal jurisdiction. The following paper aims to evaluate the extent to which the new rules under Chapter 2 can be considered successful in achieving that goal. For this pur-pose, an investigation in three stages is conducted: first the content and meaning of relevant norms and principles of public international law are explored, then the ways in which considerations of international law manifested in... (More)
On 1 January 2022 an extensive reform of Chapter 2 of the Swedish Criminal Code, which contains rules pertaining to criminal jurisdiction, entered into force. This reform carried with it major changes in both structure and material content and was partially intended to align Swedish law more closely with international law on the matter of criminal jurisdiction. The following paper aims to evaluate the extent to which the new rules under Chapter 2 can be considered successful in achieving that goal. For this pur-pose, an investigation in three stages is conducted: first the content and meaning of relevant norms and principles of public international law are explored, then the ways in which considerations of international law manifested in the design and implementation of the reformed rules on criminal jurisdiction are investigated, and lastly the potential for conflict between Swedish and international law are analysed.
Regarding international law, the paper describes several generally accepted grounds for the exercise of criminal jurisdiction on a national level, serving as exceptions to the fundamental principles of sovereignty and non-intervention which would otherwise preclude most forms of extraterritorial jurisdiction. The exact nature and extent of these exceptions is controversial however, and they are subject to further restrictions by general principles of criminal law. As for the reform of Chapter 2, it is concluded that while it resulted in a more accessible system of rules, considerations of international law were not uniformly integrated across all aspects of the new rules. In the analysis of potential conflicts between Swedish and inter-national law it is argued that the continued presence of certain rules relating to universal jurisdiction and the passive personality principle is cause for concern, but that emphasis is placed on the ability of further procedural rules to prevent an exceedingly extensive application of said rules. Lastly an overarching analysis of the theoretical and practical implications of the reform is presented, contextualising it in relation to its stated motives.
As a result of the findings of the investigation, supported by the arguments presented in the analysis thereof, it is ultimately concluded that the reform of Chapter 2 of the Swedish Criminal Code was broadly successful in more closely aligning Swedish law with international law, but that a non-negligible risk of a more divergent application of certain rules still persists. (Less)
Abstract (Swedish)
Den 1 januari 2022 fick 2 kap. brottsbalken, innehållandes regler om svensk straffrättslig jurisdiktion, en helt ny lydelse. Reformen innebar förändringar av jurisdiktionsreglernas innehåll så väl som struktur, och hade delvis som mål att närmare anpassa den svenska rätten till folkrätten. Följande arbete syftar till att utvärdera huruvida den nya jurisdiktionsrätten uppnår denna målsättning. För att åstadkomma detta genomförs en granskning i tre steg: först utreds den allmänna folkrättens normer och principer rörande nationell straffrättslig jurisdiktion, sedan granskas hur det folkrättsliga motivet kommit till uttryck i utformningen av 2 kap. brottsbalkens nya lydelse, och till sist analyseras möjliga konflikter mellan den svenska rätten... (More)
Den 1 januari 2022 fick 2 kap. brottsbalken, innehållandes regler om svensk straffrättslig jurisdiktion, en helt ny lydelse. Reformen innebar förändringar av jurisdiktionsreglernas innehåll så väl som struktur, och hade delvis som mål att närmare anpassa den svenska rätten till folkrätten. Följande arbete syftar till att utvärdera huruvida den nya jurisdiktionsrätten uppnår denna målsättning. För att åstadkomma detta genomförs en granskning i tre steg: först utreds den allmänna folkrättens normer och principer rörande nationell straffrättslig jurisdiktion, sedan granskas hur det folkrättsliga motivet kommit till uttryck i utformningen av 2 kap. brottsbalkens nya lydelse, och till sist analyseras möjliga konflikter mellan den svenska rätten och folkrätten.
I fråga om folkrätten konstateras att det finns ett antal erkända grunder för utövandet av jurisdiktion, vilka utgör undantag från den huvudregel om förbud mot extraterritoriell jurisdiktion som följer av suveränitetsprincipen. Dessa grunders exakta omfattning och innebörd är dock omtvistad och kontroversiell, och deras tillämpning begränsas ytterligare av vissa allmänna straffrättsliga principer. Avseende den svenska rätten dras slutsatsen att reformen har resulterat i ett tydligare och mer lättillämpat lagrum, men att utformningen av de direkta jurisdiktionsreglerna endast i varierande grad präglats av folkrättsliga resonemang. I analysen av möjliga konflikter anförs att den svenska rättens folkrättsenlighet på goda grunder kan ifrågasättas rörande den så kallade sexmånadersregeln och omfattningen av den universella jurisdiktionen, men att säkerställandet av en restriktiv tillämpning till stor del vilar på användningen av de begränsande tillämpningsreglerna i 7–8 och 12 §§. I en övergripande analys diskuteras därefter hur re-formen bör förstås i förhållande till sitt syfte. Här behandlas bland annat svårigheten i att över huvud taget utforma nationell rätt utefter folkrätten, samt vissa teoretiska och praktiska följder av 2 kap. brottsbalkens utformning.
Mot bakgrund av vad som framkommit i den föregående utredningen och analysen presenteras till sist slutsatsen att den reformerade straffrättsliga jurisdiktionsrätten till största del uppnår målet om att motsvara folkrätten, men att det fortfarande föreligger en icke försumbar risk för att vissa specifika bestämmelser kan komma att tillämpas i strid med denna. (Less)
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author
Unell, Emil LU
supervisor
organization
alternative title
Lofty ambitions - An evaluation of Swedish criminal jurisdiction in relation to international law
course
JURM02 20241
year
type
H3 - Professional qualifications (4 Years - )
subject
keywords
straffrätt, straffprocessrätt, folkrätt, jurisdiktion
language
Swedish
id
9152530
date added to LUP
2024-06-03 09:09:04
date last changed
2024-06-03 09:09:04
@misc{9152530,
  abstract     = {{On 1 January 2022 an extensive reform of Chapter 2 of the Swedish Criminal Code, which contains rules pertaining to criminal jurisdiction, entered into force. This reform carried with it major changes in both structure and material content and was partially intended to align Swedish law more closely with international law on the matter of criminal jurisdiction. The following paper aims to evaluate the extent to which the new rules under Chapter 2 can be considered successful in achieving that goal. For this pur-pose, an investigation in three stages is conducted: first the content and meaning of relevant norms and principles of public international law are explored, then the ways in which considerations of international law manifested in the design and implementation of the reformed rules on criminal jurisdiction are investigated, and lastly the potential for conflict between Swedish and international law are analysed.
Regarding international law, the paper describes several generally accepted grounds for the exercise of criminal jurisdiction on a national level, serving as exceptions to the fundamental principles of sovereignty and non-intervention which would otherwise preclude most forms of extraterritorial jurisdiction. The exact nature and extent of these exceptions is controversial however, and they are subject to further restrictions by general principles of criminal law. As for the reform of Chapter 2, it is concluded that while it resulted in a more accessible system of rules, considerations of international law were not uniformly integrated across all aspects of the new rules. In the analysis of potential conflicts between Swedish and inter-national law it is argued that the continued presence of certain rules relating to universal jurisdiction and the passive personality principle is cause for concern, but that emphasis is placed on the ability of further procedural rules to prevent an exceedingly extensive application of said rules. Lastly an overarching analysis of the theoretical and practical implications of the reform is presented, contextualising it in relation to its stated motives.
As a result of the findings of the investigation, supported by the arguments presented in the analysis thereof, it is ultimately concluded that the reform of Chapter 2 of the Swedish Criminal Code was broadly successful in more closely aligning Swedish law with international law, but that a non-negligible risk of a more divergent application of certain rules still persists.}},
  author       = {{Unell, Emil}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Att sikta mot folkrätten - En granskning av den svenska straffrättsliga jurisdiktionens folkrättsliga motiv}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}