The human right principle of legality : nullum crimen/nulla poena sine lege certa

The principle of legality is of universal significance. It is not only found in national laws but has its counterparts in regional as well as in international law. In its crudest and simplest form the principle of legality can be expressed by the Latin maxims nullum crimen/nullo poena sine lege certa. The Latin maxim nullum crimen sine lege certa means that the criminal law must have existed for the conviction to be based on it at the time when the act in question was committed. [Excerpt]peer-reviewe