Genocide is commonly defined as a deliberate and systematic extermination of a particular group of people based on their ethnicity, nationality, race, or religion. This definition is recognized in international law, particularly in the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, adopted in 1948. According to this convention, genocide is characterized by acts intended to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial, or religious group. These acts can include killing members of the group, causing serious bodily or mental harm, inflicting living conditions designed to destroy the group, and imposing measures to prevent births within the group.
Moreover, genocide is distinguished from other crimes against humanity by its intent to destroy a specific cultural or social group. The intent is a critical component; the actions must be carried out with the purpose of annihilating the targeted group. This definition highlights the importance of both the acts perpetrated and the intent behind them, as both elements are crucial for classifying an atrocity as genocide.
For further details and a deeper understanding of genocide, you can refer to the following sources:
- United Nations Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect: https://www.un.org/en/genocideprevention/
- United Nations General Assembly, Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (1948): https://www.ohchr.org/en/professionalinterest/pages/genocide.aspx
- Britannica, Genocide Definition: https://www.britannica.com/topic/genocide
These sources provide comprehensive insights into the legal definitions and implications of genocide.