Piracy and genocide: are the crimes related?

Mark Chadwick, at Nottingham Law School, explores “universal” jurisdiction over piracy and the “core” crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes

Piracy can be a devastating crime, not only in terms of costly ransoms or lost shipments, but also in terms of human cost. Figures quoted from Oceans Beyond Piracy suggest that in 2011, with Somalia-based piracy at its peak, more than 1,200 seafarers were being held hostage and 35 of those were killed while in captivity. The threat of piracy may have subsided in the western Indian Ocean region, yet it remains a threat elsewhere, with the Gulf of Guinea, south-east Asia, and (more recently) the seas around Venezuela becoming hotspots. For as long as there is political instability in the world, piracy will find a way to thrive.