What are the common definitions of genocide in international law?
In international law, genocide is defined primarily by the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (1948). The key elements of this definition include:
1. **Intent**: Genocide involves the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial, or religious group.
2. **Acts**: The definition outlines specific acts that constitute genocide, including:
– Killing members of the group.
– Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group.
– Deliberately inflicting living conditions calculated to bring about the group’s physical destruction.
– Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group.
– Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.
3. **Targeted Groups**: The targeted groups must be national, ethnical, racial, or religious in nature, which distinguishes genocide from other crimes against humanity.
4. **Scale**: Genocide typically refers to acts that are systematic and widespread, indicating a level of planning and organisation.
These definitions are further elaborated in various legal documents and case law, such as the statutes of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and decisions from international tribunals. The intent to destroy the group, either in whole or in part, is a crucial element that differentiates genocide from other serious crimes.
