Legal Definitions - genocide

Genocide is a very serious crime that is considered the "crime of crimes" under international law. It involves intentionally trying to destroy a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group by committing certain acts against them. These acts include:

• Killing members of the group
• Causing serious harm to members of the group
• Deliberately making conditions so bad that the group is destroyed physically
• Trying to prevent births within the group
• Forcibly taking children from the group and giving them to another group

People who plan, order, commit, or help with these acts can be held responsible for genocide. This includes both public and private individuals. Leaders can also be held responsible for the actions of their subordinates if they knew about them and did not try to stop them.

Genocidal intent means that the acts were committed specifically because the victims belonged to a certain group. This intent can be inferred from circumstantial evidence if there is no direct evidence. Incitement to commit genocide is also a crime, even if the genocide does not actually happen.

One example of genocide is the Holocaust, where the Nazi regime in Germany tried to exterminate Jewish people. Another example is the Rwandan genocide, where the Hutu majority tried to kill Tutsi people. In both cases, the perpetrators committed acts of killing, causing harm, and making conditions unbearable for the targeted group.

Another example of incitement to commit genocide is the radio broadcasts in Rwanda that encouraged Hutu people to kill Tutsi people. Even though the people who made the broadcasts did not directly commit genocide, they were still held responsible for inciting others to do so.

These examples illustrate how genocide involves intentional acts of violence and harm against a specific group of people. It is a very serious crime that can have devastating consequences for the victims and their communities.