Civil Rights | Mild
Irritated by the bickering on the topic of self-defense;
Concerned that the Assembly cannot remain silent on the issue; and
Determined to have the final say on the matter;
The World Assembly hereby establishes the following:
- "Reasonable force" is the minimal amount of force an ordinary person would use to prevent or stop a similar attack in similar circumstances.
- Member states must permit the accused to plead a rebuttable affirmative defense of self-defense to any charge of which an element is causing willful physical harm to another individual.
- Member states may establish domestic policies requiring that the claimant:
- Satisfy a factual burden of proof not greater than that of the charge for which they are accused; or
- Prove that they used reasonable force based on the circumstances.
- Member states may further limit the aforementioned affirmative defense if the victim of the accused had the authorization to lawfully act on the state's behalf.
- Member states otherwise have complete jurisdiction over all other questions of individual self-defense or defense of others within their territories.