Non-Credit Course: Research Training on Universal Jurisdiction for the Crime of Torture

The Research Project 

In collaboration with the Bonavero Institute of Human Rights, the University of Johannesburg (UJ) is developing an online repository for national penal legislation on the crime of torture. Students who participate in the programme will research how States have made the crime of torture punishable in its domestic courts wherever in the world an act of torture occurred. The analysis of the laws and any related caselaw will be undertaken based on the definitions of torture under international human rights law, international humanitarian law, and international criminal law. 

The research project will cover all 197 States (as recognised by the UN Secretary-General) as well as Kosovo and Western Sahara. Since 2017, Oxford students participating in Bonavero non-credit courses have made significant contributions to the online repositories of the law on police use of force (https://policinglaw.info), on the right of assembly worldwide (https://rightofassembly.info), and on counterterrorism law (https://counterterrorlaw.info).  

Content of the project 

This research training programme took place in Hilary Term 2025 and provided students with training on the definition of torture under international human rights law, international humanitarian law, and international criminal law. 

The new repository on law on torture will analyse the repression of torture under the constitution, the penal code, or in dedicated legislation. The relevant laws will be made available for in both the original language and an English translation (if available). 

The research sought to identify any penal legislation on torture (or other forms of ill-treatment). In addition, the research will identify relevant caselaw on the laws. 

Convenor: Professor Stuart Casey-Maslen, Visiting Professor, UJ (South Africa) 

Coordination: Sarah Norman, Programmes Administrator, Bonavero Institute of Human Rights