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The Extradition Proceedings Against General Pinochet: A Case Study In The Emerging International System Of Criminal Justice, Lee _

Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest

The ruling of the House of Lords that General Pinochet can be extradited to Spain to stand trial for crimes against humanity lends support to the emerging theory of universal jurisdiction for certain crimes under international law. The following discussion of the elements of General Pinochet's case will show that the international community, by and large, is willing to sacrifice some national sovereignty in order to eradicate torture and other human rights violations. It will do so through an elucidation of the concepts of jus cogens, international ethics, head of state immunity, human rights crimes, universal jurisdiction, and extradition.