What Is Genocide?

Definition of genocide

The 1948 UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide provides the official definition of genocide:

• Any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group :

  • Killing members of the group
  • Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group
  • Deliberately inflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about physical destruction
  • Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group
  • Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group

• Genocide is recognized as a crime under international law, whether committed in peace or wartime

• The genocide meaning excludes political and social groups, which has been a point of criticism

Key aspects of genocide

• Intent is crucial: Acts must be committed with the specific intention to destroy a protected group

• What is genocide can be committed by constitutional rulers, public officials, or private individuals

• States that have ratified the Convention have a duty to prevent and punish genocide

• The Convention imposes a general duty on signatory states to prevent and punish genocide

Legal framework

• The 1948 Genocide Convention was the first human rights treaty adopted by the UN General Assembly

• As of 2024, 153 states have ratified or acceded to the Convention

• Persons accused of genocide can be tried in a competent court of the state where the act was committed or in an international criminal court

Historical examples

Some notable instances that illustrate what is genocide include:

• The Holocaust: Nazi genocide of six million European Jews from 1941 to 1945

• The Armenian genocide: Mass killings of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire during World War I

• The Rwandan genocide: Approximately 800,000 people killed in 1994

• The Cambodian genocide: Khmer Rouge regime killed an estimated 2-2.5 million people from 1975-1979

Challenges in addressing genocide

• Difficulty in proving intent beyond reasonable doubt

• Hesitation of UN member states to intervene due to concerns about state sovereignty

• Criticism of the term's overuse, potentially devaluing its significance

FAQ

What is the definition of genocide?

Genocide is the intentional destruction of a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group through acts like killing, causing serious harm, or forcibly transferring children. The official definition comes from the 1948 UN Genocide Convention and is recognized as a crime under international law.

How does the genocide meaning differ from other mass killings?

The genocide meaning specifically requires the intent to destroy a protected group (national, ethnic, racial, or religious). This distinguishes it from other mass killings or crimes against humanity that may not have this specific intent or may target other types of groups.

What are some examples of genocide in history?

Notable examples of genocide include the Holocaust (1941-1945), the Armenian genocide (World War I), the Rwandan genocide (1994), and the Cambodian genocide (1975-1979). These events illustrate the scale and severity of what is considered genocide.

Who can commit genocide according to its definition?

According to the definition of genocide, it can be committed by constitutional rulers, public officials, or private individuals. The key factor is the intent to destroy a protected group, regardless of the perpetrator's official status.

What are the main challenges in addressing genocide?

Major challenges in addressing what is genocide include difficulty in proving intent beyond reasonable doubt, hesitation of UN member states to intervene due to concerns about state sovereignty, and criticism of the term's overuse potentially devaluing its significance.