Universal Jurisdiction and Accountability for Afghanistan

Thank you very much for your interest in the course on Universal Jurisdiction in Afghanistan. The course is delivered in English, Dari, and Pashto. 

If you would like to enroll using anonymized credentials or access the Dari or Pashto versions, kindly send an email expressing your interest to Raul Saucedo at:  raul.saucedo@rwi.lu.se .

This online course is designed as a learning activity on Universal Jurisdiction (UJ) and Accountability for Afghanistan. It supports deeper, self-paced engagement with key legal concepts, comparative case law, and advocacy strategies related to the use of universal jurisdiction in addressing grave human rights violations.

Rooted in participatory, learner-centered pedagogy, the course combines video lectures, curated readings, interactive activities, and comparative case studies. Participants will gain a practical understanding of how UJ has been used in various jurisdictions, its legal foundations, and its relevance to the Afghan context.

The course emphasizes experiential learning through real-world examples—including the prosecution of Syrian officials in Germany (Al-Khatib case), the Faryadi Sarwar Zardad case in the UK, the Pinochet arrest warrant in Spain, and the Brereton inquiry in Australia. These cases demonstrate both the opportunities and limitations of UJ and illustrate pathways for Afghan actors to document violations, engage survivors, and support accountability.

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the legal and historical foundations of universal jurisdiction
• Analyze comparative examples of UJ across Europe, Oceania, and Latin America
• Identify key actors and entry points for Afghan-led justice initiatives
• Apply survivor-centred approaches and evidentiary best practices
• Develop strategies to support or initiate UJ proceedings abroad