This article is part of the Inter-University Programme "Cultura de la Legalidad" (ON TRUST-CM) of the Community of Madrid

Text originally published in Italian on Sistema Penale, 26th April 2020. Translated, with the authorization of Sistema Penale, by Fernando Londoño Martínez, associate professor at the Universidad Diego Portales, Santiago de Chile

The paper first briefly addresses the Chilean situation with regard to the Covid-19 pandemic and explains some of the measures that the criminal justice system has taken during this period, focusing on an analysis of the recently approved law on pardon. In this context, it reports on the interesting ruling by the Constitutional Court that rejected an injunction of unconstitutionality submitted by a group of congressmen who claimed that the mentioned law violated equality before the law, as well as life and health of a group of prisoners, all of whom had been convicted of serious crimes against humanity, a group that the pardon law expressly excludes

The first criminal trial worldwide on State-run torture in Syria started in Koblenz, Germany, on 23 April 2020. The defendants are two former high officials of the Syrian General Intelligence Service of President Bashar al-Assad and face charges for international crimes committed in the Al-Khatib prison of Damascus. The trial marks a historical achievement in international criminal justice; in fact, it is the first trial based on the principle of universal jurisdiction against Syrian State officials. Moreover, the Al-Kathib trial, together with other proceedings held in a few other European States, is currently the only way to ensure accountability for the grave crimes committed within the Syrian conflict

The Trends in the Italian Constitutional Jurisprudence, in the Report by President Cartabia

With a recent law, the Portuguese legislator, in order to deal with the coronavirus emergency within the prison system, has adopted a pardon, together with other measures aimed at reducing the number of prisoners.