Political Science 3388E Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Raphael Lemkin, United Nations General Assembly, Genocide Convention
Document Summary
Treaties oversell actual international mechanisms in place to stop it. Genocide is one of the most extreme forms of hr violations and the subject of early hr treaties. 1948: un convention of the punishment and prevention of the crime of genocide (genocide convention) Obligates state parties to punish and to prevent genocide where it occurs. The overall record of genocide prevention during the past 50 years has been dismal. Main idea = destruction of human groups, specifically national and ethnic groups. Definition: co-ordinated plan of different action aimed at destruction of essential foundations of life of groups, with the ultimate aim of annihilating the groups themselves. Dictionary def: deliberate and systemic extermination of a national or ethnic group. Not just murder; social, economic, cultural, religious , moral foundations of group. First use of term came when 24 nazi officials were tried in the international military tribunal (imt) at nuremburg.