The Geneva Conventions provide for universal

jurisdiction, as opposed to a more traditional (and limited) territorial

jurisdiction that was designed to respect the sovereignty of States over their

citizens.  The doctrine of universal

jurisdiction is based on the notion that some crimes, such as genocide, crimes

against humanity, torture, and war crimes, are so exceptionally grave that they

affect the fundamental interests of the international community as a whole. It

renders the convicts or accused of such crimes to the jurisdiction of all

signatory States, regardless of their nationality or territoriality of their

crime.

Every State bound by the treaties is under the legal

obligation to search for and prosecute those in its territory suspected of

committing such crimes, regardless of the nationality of the suspect or victim,

or of the place where the act was allegedly committed. The State may hand the

suspect over to another State or an international tribunal for trial. Where

domestic law does not allow for the exercise of universal jurisdiction, a State

must introduce the necessary domestic legislative provisions before it can do

so, and must actually exercise the jurisdiction, unless it hands the suspect

over to another country or international tribunal.