Final answer:
Accused war criminals in various European states are tried under the concept of universal jurisdiction, which allows national courts to prosecute serious international crimes. This complements the role of international courts, like the ICC, in upholding human rights and global governance.
Step-by-step explanation:
Accused war criminals are being tried in national courts in a number of European states under the concept of universal jurisdiction. This principle allows national courts to prosecute individuals for serious crimes against international law, such as genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, regardless of where the crime was committed or the nationality of the accused or the victims.
The establishment of international legal mechanisms like the Nuremberg Trials after World War II and the creation of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has been essential in the development of international law and its ability to pursue justice for egregious human rights violations. However, individual nation-states have also adopted universal jurisdiction to ensure that perpetrators of heinous crimes can be held accountable, even when international courts are not employed or when states are reluctant to recognize their jurisdiction.
International law thus plays a pivotal role in global governance by advancing the principle of state sovereignty while also acknowledging the responsibility to protect human rights and remedy violations wherever they may occur.