GENOCIDE
genocide (jen-<<schwa>>-sId).Int’l law. An international crime involving acts causing
serious physical and mental harm with the intent to destroy, partially or entirely, a national, ethnic,
racial, or religious group. • The widely ratified Genocide Convention of 1948 defines the crime.
The International Criminal Court has jurisdiction to try those accused of genocide. Many nations
also have criminal laws providing punishment for individuals convicted of genocide. Cf. ETHNIC
CLEANSING. [Cases: International Law 10.11.]
“The … draft Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide was
adopted by the General Assembly on December 9, 1948 and unanimously recommended for
adherence to the members of the United Nations. It came into force in October, 1950 …. The term
‘genocide’ was first proposed by Dr. Lemkin in the course of the war and incorporated on his
suggestion into the Indictment of the Major German War Criminals. The [U.N. General] Assembly
Resolution on Genocide of December 11, 1946, and the Convention of 1948, are also the result of
a remarkable one-man campaign.” Georg Schwarzenberger, Power Politics: A Study of
International Society 634 (2d ed. 1951). [Blacks Law 8th]