In cooperation with the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (RWI), the International Nuremberg Principles Academy (Nuremberg Academy) organised a four-day workshop on Universal Jurisdiction in Nuremberg from 21 to 24 April 2026. The workshop brought together a diverse group of facilitators and practitioners. From the Nuremberg Academy, Kiran Mohandas Menon, Darleen Seda, Dr Gurgen Petrossian, Dr Pablo Gavira Díaz and Astrid Walter contributed their expertise. They were joined by colleagues from RWI, including Dr Alejandro Fuentes, Dr Christine Evans and Massoud Adrakhsh, as well as external experts such as Dr Haroon Mutasem, Dr Huma Saeed, and Azadah Raz Mohammad. The workshop also benefitted from the participation of Richard Bennett, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan.
The workshop was designed as a tailored, practice-oriented training for Afghan human rights defenders based in Germany. It deepened participants’ understanding of how Universal Jurisdiction operates in practice, with a particular focus on its application within the German legal system. Participants examined the legal framework underpinning cases brought before German courts under the principle of Universal Jurisdiction and explored concrete avenues through which civil society actors can contribute to accountability efforts for crimes committed in Afghanistan.
A central question guiding the discussions was whether and how civil society organisations representing exiled Afghans can trigger criminal investigations in Germany in situations where domestic accountability mechanisms in Afghanistan remain unavailable. Through case-based exercises, group work and simulations, participants engaged with the practical steps required to identify, document and assess international crimes with a view to potential prosecution.
The workshop brought together 18 human rights advocates from diverse professional backgrounds. Discussions were dynamic and critically engaged with both the opportunities and limitations of pursuing justice through Universal Jurisdiction. Participants adopted a human rights-based and survivor-centred approach, reflecting in particular on the responsibilities associated with engaging victims and witnesses, including issues of protection, trauma sensitivity and ethical documentation practices. The practice-oriented design of the workshop enabled participants to develop initial strategies for case-building, including identifying relevant crimes under international criminal law, assessing evidentiary thresholds and understanding institutional pathways for engagement with German prosecutorial authorities. Particular attention was given to the role of civil society in supporting investigations, maintaining secure information channels and managing expectations regarding accountability processes.
By facilitating this training, the Nuremberg Academy contributes to strengthening jurisdiction for international crimes committed in Afghanistan, both through national jurisdictions and in complementarity with international efforts.
The Nuremberg Academy expresses its sincere gratitude to all participants for their active engagement, as well as to RWI and all contributing experts for their collaboration in making this workshop possible. (aw, gp)
