Genocide: Inhumanity in Our World

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Genocide is one of the most evil moral crimes any ruling authority such as a government can commit against its people. A general definition of ‘Genocide’ is the intention to destroy or murder people because of their race, beliefs, or even political and economic status. Legal expert, Raphael Lemkin, created the term ‘Genocide’ 1944. Lemkin, a Polish Attorney, combined the ancient Greek word ‘genos’ which means race and the Latin word ‘cide’ which translates to killing. There are many examples of genocide in the world but the most recognizable is that of the Holocaust and how the German powers that be sought and attempted to kill all Jews. A recent example is the Rawandan Genocide in 1994 where the assassination of Juvénal Habyarimana caused a violent reaction resulting in mass killings. In efforts to reduce Genocide, the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (UHCG) was adopted by the United Nations in 1948 and was placed in force in 1951. On July 1, 2002 the International Criminal Court (ICC) came into force. The ICC not only accepted the UHCG’s definition of Genocide but expanded it to include crimes against humanity such as enslavement, deportation, torture, rape, enforced disappearance and apartheid. There have been many organizations created throughout the world to defend and prevent Genocide. Communities, Religions and even Colleges are forming organizations and these are just some examples of how this is a concern too many people. Humanity is coming together and realizing this is a serious issue that can not be ignored. Genocide may seem like a thing of the past but it is very much alive in the 21st Century and unfortunately it is still a vast issue in the world today.

Genocide refers t...

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