Genocide

Prevention & Punishment

Article I of the Genocide Convention requires of parties to "undertake to prevent" genocide, however such action is undefined. Individuals may be punished whether they are public officials or not, and that parties must enact legislation outlawing genocide allowing persons to be tried in domestic or international courts.

Prevention: dehumanisation

Ban hate propaganda and direct incitements to genocide and punish transgressions

Prevention: denial

Best overcome by public trials and truth commissions, followed by education about the facts of the genocide, particularly for the children of the group or nation that committed the crime, forgetting is the negative force that results in future genocides.

Prevention: extermination

Carried out by governments or by patterned mob violence, can only be stopped by force, armed intervention must be rapid and overwhelming, safe areas should be established with real military protection.

Theories of genocide

Classic: emphasise intergroup antipathy, authoritarianism, social deprivation and deep social crisis. Contemporary: emphasise ideology (including fascism and racial superiority), strategic calculations and state interest, and political development.

Stages

Classification Symbolism Discrimination Dehumanisation Organisation Polarisation Preparation Persecution Extermination Denial

Polarisation

Extremists further divide the two groups, hate groups distribute more propaganda, laws are passed to prohibit marriage and social interaction.

Genocide includes

Forced disintegration of political and social institutions, wiping out basis of personal security, liberty, health & dignity.

How to stop crimes against humanity

Effective responses will require addressing the root causes of genocide, including poverty, discrimination, inequality, ideology (ie racism, fascism) and geopolitical considerations of states. Causes need to be addressed by mechanisms of fair trade, poverty alleviation, education and solidarity.

Extermination (genocide)

Mass killing legally called "genocide", extermination to the killers as they do not believe the victims are human, instead they are cleansing the society of impurities.

Organisation

State usually organises arms and financially supports the groups that conduct the genocidal massacres. Plans are made by elites for a "final solution" of genocidal killings.

Goal of genocide

To deprive humanity of the manifold richness its nationalities, races, ethnicities and religions provide

Genocide in International Law

1948, the UN adopted the Convention on the Punishment and Prevention of the Crime of Genocide obligating state parties to 'prevent' and 'punish' genocide where it occurs.

Prevention: polarisation

Aid the 'moderate centre', sanctions should be imposed to punish extremists.

Prevention: classification

Devalue distinctive features used to classify and promote a common language

Classification

Distinguish by nationality, ethnicity, race or religion. Primary method of dividing society and creating a power struggle between groups.

Symbolism

Names, languages, types of dress

Denial

Occurs during and after, tactics include: Attack truth tellers: they committed crimes Deny & minimise evidence and numbers Dey genocidal intent Deny facts fit legal definition of genocide etc

Dehumanisation

One group denies humanity of another, and makes victim group appear subhuman, this invokes superiority of one group, and inferiority of another. Effective through means of propaganda.

Prevention: organisation

Organisations that commit acts of genocide should be banned, and membership outlawed. Arms embargoes should be strictly enforced and assets of organisers and financiers of genocide frozen.

Prevention: symbolism

Outlaw hate speech and hate symbols.

Prevention: discrimination

Prevented by full political empowerment and citizenship rights for all groups in a society, discrimination on the basis of nationality, ethnicity, race or religion should be outlawed.

Define genocide

Refers to a coordinated plan aimed at destruction of the essential foundations of the life of national, ethnical, racial or religious group

Discrimination

Segregate groups (housing, schools, transport, eating places), prohibit voting, require passes to travel, fire from professions

Persecution

Separate groups, expropriate property

Preparation

Victim group forced to wear identifying symbols and are separated, use of concentration camps, weapons for killing are stock pilled, extermination camps are build. --> build up of killing capacity

Prevention: preparation

When death lists are drawn up, the international community should recognise that genocide is imminent, and mobilise for armed intervention, those identified should be given asylum.