The United Nations and the Identification
and Prevention of Genocides
What is genocide? A genocide is a mass killing with intent to destroy whole, or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group. Some examples of genocides may come to mind: the Holocaust, Rwanda and the killings of indigenous people in the early twentieth century. These terrible crimes have haunted humanity’s past, but the United Nations (UN) still allows genocides to occur today. But why? The United Nations need to be swifter in identifying conflicts that can lead to genocides as well as understanding why genocides happen, effective use of prevention mechanisms, understanding that genocides still occur even after the holocaust, negative …show more content…
Most genocides will occur because of conflict between two groups using us versus them dynamics. Meaning that the group that initiates the genocide faces some sort of threat from the other group, Helen Fein writes-“Many genocides can be viewed as retributive-murderous responses by a regime that were preceded by threats to the regime by the victims’ group.”(Fein, 2007, p. 136) so, one of the reasons genocides happen is fear of loss of power by a totalitarian government. But there are several other reasons that genocides can occur. For example, spreading fear among potential enemies as well as poor economic status can be causes for genocide “a sharp economic downturn can create a sense of crisis that makes a population ready to scapegoat a vulnerable out-group and softens popular reluctance to kill others”. (Hamburg, 2008, p. 34) when a dominion choose to initiate genocide, the fear incited on citizens and the world can test our faith in the UN and the world’s …show more content…
These acts include causing mental or bodily harm to members of the group, killing members of the group, and transferring children from the group to another group. These are the characteristics for genocide that the UN has put in place, but how does the UN prevent and stop genocides? Firstly, the UN will identify those responsible and related to the genocide, those people will then be arrested and a trial date will be set. “the following acts shall be punishable: Genocide; Conspiracy to commit genocide; Direct and public incitement to commit genocide; Attempt to commit genocide”(United Nations, 1948, ‘Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide). If people related to the genocide cannot be found, a bounty will be set, but not much else will be done to assist in finding those responsible. Aside from serving justice, the UN has also put together international tribunals to aid countries that have a biased or broken justice
and Prevention of Genocides
What is genocide? A genocide is a mass killing with intent to destroy whole, or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group. Some examples of genocides may come to mind: the Holocaust, Rwanda and the killings of indigenous people in the early twentieth century. These terrible crimes have haunted humanity’s past, but the United Nations (UN) still allows genocides to occur today. But why? The United Nations need to be swifter in identifying conflicts that can lead to genocides as well as understanding why genocides happen, effective use of prevention mechanisms, understanding that genocides still occur even after the holocaust, negative …show more content…
Most genocides will occur because of conflict between two groups using us versus them dynamics. Meaning that the group that initiates the genocide faces some sort of threat from the other group, Helen Fein writes-“Many genocides can be viewed as retributive-murderous responses by a regime that were preceded by threats to the regime by the victims’ group.”(Fein, 2007, p. 136) so, one of the reasons genocides happen is fear of loss of power by a totalitarian government. But there are several other reasons that genocides can occur. For example, spreading fear among potential enemies as well as poor economic status can be causes for genocide “a sharp economic downturn can create a sense of crisis that makes a population ready to scapegoat a vulnerable out-group and softens popular reluctance to kill others”. (Hamburg, 2008, p. 34) when a dominion choose to initiate genocide, the fear incited on citizens and the world can test our faith in the UN and the world’s …show more content…
These acts include causing mental or bodily harm to members of the group, killing members of the group, and transferring children from the group to another group. These are the characteristics for genocide that the UN has put in place, but how does the UN prevent and stop genocides? Firstly, the UN will identify those responsible and related to the genocide, those people will then be arrested and a trial date will be set. “the following acts shall be punishable: Genocide; Conspiracy to commit genocide; Direct and public incitement to commit genocide; Attempt to commit genocide”(United Nations, 1948, ‘Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide). If people related to the genocide cannot be found, a bounty will be set, but not much else will be done to assist in finding those responsible. Aside from serving justice, the UN has also put together international tribunals to aid countries that have a biased or broken justice