The objective of this article is to analyse the current situation of the crime of piracy in the contemporary International Law of the Sea. Firstly, an overview of the history and concept of piracy is conducted. Then, the rules of International Law of the Sea that regulate maritime piracy and its complementary legal figure – the armed robbery against ships – are reviewed, because both are crimes of international significance (crimes under International Law). Finally, the application of the principle of universal jurisdiction that the international community has had to stop piracy in the world seas is also discussed.
Keywords:
Maritime piracy, armed robbery against ships, International Law of the Sea, crimes of international signficance (crimes under International Law), universal jurisdiction principle
Author Biography
Juan Cristóbal Fernández Sanz, Universidad de Chile
Abogado. Licenciado en Ciencias Jurídicas y Sociales por la Universidad de Chile. Ayudante adjunto del Departamento de Ciencias Penales de la Facultad de Derecho de la Universidad de Chile. Actual jefe de gabinete del Decanato de la Facultad de Derecho de la Universidad de Chile.
Fernández Sanz, J. C. (2013). Current legal status of piracy: An ancient offense of International Law of the Sea. Revista Tribuna Internacional, 2(4), pp. 9–31. https://doi.org/10.5354/rti.v2i4.30124
