Why in the news?
- U.N Investigators reported Genocide in Gaza; Israel rejected it saying the report is false and distorted.
Genocide
- What is it?: UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (1948) defines it as- “The acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group”.
- Key Characters:
- Intentionality: Deliberate targeting of a group.
- Group-based: Focused on identity (ethnic, religious, national).
- State or Organised Actor Role: Often backed by state or militant groups.
- Systematic & Large-scale: Distinguishes it from random mass killings.
- Examples:
- Armenian Genocide (1915–16) carried out by Ottoman Empire.
- Holocaust (1941–45) of Nazi Germany trying to exterminate Jews, Roma, etc.
- Rwanda (1994) – Mass killing of Tutsis by Hutus.
- Causes of Genocide:
- Ethnic/Religious conflict
- Authoritarian rule and political propaganda.
- Resource conflicts & economic inequality.
- War conditions & breakdown of governance.
- Dehumanisation of groups (through hate speech, media).
- Consequences:
- Humanitarian catastrophe – mass killings, displacement, refugee crises.
- Breakdown of social fabric – inter-ethnic hatred, mistrust.
- Economic devastation – loss of workforce, destruction of resources.
- Regional instability – spillover conflicts, refugee burden.
- Global impact – challenges to international peace & security.
- International Legal Framework:
- UN Genocide Convention (1948) – defines genocide, obligates states to prevent/punish.
- Rome Statute of International Criminal Court (1998) – lists genocide as one of four core international crimes (with crimes against humanity, war crimes, crime of aggression).
- Responsibility to Protect (R2P) Doctrine (2005, UN World Summit) – international duty to intervene in case of mass atrocities.
- India’s Position:
- India signed the Genocide Convention (1948) but has not enacted a standalone domestic law on genocide.
- Relevant provisions exist in IPC, CrPC, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, etc. but lack specific genocide classification.
- India advocates non-interference and sovereignty, yet has supported UN actions (e.g., Rwanda, Bosnia peacekeeping).