Extraterritorial Criminalisation and Non-intervention : Sweden’s Criminal Measures against the Purchase of Sex Abroad

• This article considers the limits of extraterritorial criminalisation under international law in the context of a recent legislative proposal by the government of Sweden to impose criminal measures against the purchase of sexual services abroad. The article first presents the proposal and then a specific legal objection raised against it, namely that allowing Swedish courts to try purchases committed abroad irrespective of local law is inconsistent with the principle of non-intervention under international law. The substance of this objection is discussed against the background of general descriptions of the concepts of jurisdiction and non-intervention under international law. It is concluded that the meaning of the principle of non-intervention may have been overstated.

Subject headings

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Juridik -- Juridik (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Law -- Law (hsv//eng)

Keyword

extraterritorial jurisdiction

non-intervention

double criminality

prostitution

gender equality

criminal law

Sweden

Public International Law

folkrätt

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)