Book contents
- Genocide in International Law
- Genocide in International Law
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Preface to the First Edition
- Acknowledgements
- Abbreviations
- Introduction
- 1 Origins of the Legal Prohibition of Genocide
- 2 Drafting of the Genocide Convention
- 3 Subsequent Normative Developments
- 4 Groups Protected by the Convention
- 5 The Specific Intent to Commit Genocide
- 6 Punishable Acts of Genocide
- 7 Cultural Genocide, Ethnic Cleansing and Other Acts Not Punishable under the Convention
- 8 ‘Other Acts’ of Genocide
- 9 Defences to Genocide
- 10 The Duty to Punish Genocide
- 11 Prosecution of Genocide by International Criminal Tribunals
- 12 State Responsibility and the Role of the International Court of Justice
- 13 Prevention of Genocide
- 14 Activity of International Organizations
- 15 Treaty Law Questions and the Convention
- Conclusions
- Bibliography
- Index
13 - Prevention of Genocide
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 14 March 2025
- Genocide in International Law
- Genocide in International Law
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Preface to the First Edition
- Acknowledgements
- Abbreviations
- Introduction
- 1 Origins of the Legal Prohibition of Genocide
- 2 Drafting of the Genocide Convention
- 3 Subsequent Normative Developments
- 4 Groups Protected by the Convention
- 5 The Specific Intent to Commit Genocide
- 6 Punishable Acts of Genocide
- 7 Cultural Genocide, Ethnic Cleansing and Other Acts Not Punishable under the Convention
- 8 ‘Other Acts’ of Genocide
- 9 Defences to Genocide
- 10 The Duty to Punish Genocide
- 11 Prosecution of Genocide by International Criminal Tribunals
- 12 State Responsibility and the Role of the International Court of Justice
- 13 Prevention of Genocide
- 14 Activity of International Organizations
- 15 Treaty Law Questions and the Convention
- Conclusions
- Bibliography
- Index
Summary
The title of the Convention and article I both refer to the obligation to prevent genocide. However, the Convention provides no other guidance on the scope of this obligation. In its 2007 judgment in Bosnia v. Serbia the International Court of Justice held that Serbia had had been in breach of its obligation to prevent genocide because it failed to exert pressure on Bosnian Serb forces who were preparing to commit genocide at Srebrenica. The doctrine developed by the Court was quite radical in that it recognized an extraterritoriaoutside their own gterritory unless l dimension of the obligation, one that varied in scope depending upon the influence the State Party was capable of exerting. Prevention of genocide is also contemplated in the General Assembly resolution on the responsibility to protect. Means employed to prevent genocide must be otherwise lawful. States cannot use force to prevent genocide unless authorised pursuant to the Charter of the United Nations.
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- Genocide in International LawThe Crime of Crimes, pp. 598 - 647Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2025