The principle of universal jurisdiction emphasizes the judicial powers of a state, allowing national judicial systems to prosecute international crimes regardless of the place of commission or the nationality of the perpetrator or the victim. A state may conduct a trial even if the crime was not committed within its territory. Universal jurisdiction is a form of criminal jurisdiction based on the nature of the crime; that is, neither the perpetrator nor the victim needs to have any connection to the state conducting the trial. Under this principle, every state has the right to try individuals accused of certain crimes on the basis that such crimes affect the entire international community.