Dictionary of Gross Human Rights Violations

Genocide, Prevention of

Much of the attention of the international community (and international law) is on the punishment of genocide after it occurs. Prevention is an area that has received relatively little attention and priority. Perhaps this is because prevention (and intervention) entails complex analysis and difficult decisions.

The prevention of genocide (and other gross human rights violations) has four central aspects: 1) deterrence, 2) early warning, 3) human rights education, and 4) early, and effective, response. The question of deterrence remains unresolved but the punishment of crime is often presented as being a form of deterrence for future criminal acts. In order to construct early warning frameworks for genocide, there must first be a comprehensive knowledge of what causes genocide. This is obviously an area that still needs much work. However, early warning may also be accomplished by tapping local knowledge and accounts (not only of human rights workers but also of “ordinary” people). Human rights education has a crucial role to play in the prevention of genocide because where there is a culture of human rights and tolerance it is difficult for hatred to flourish. Early response is often not accomplished because international organisations (and, to a lesser extent, international non-government organisations) are constrained by institutional decision-making (“red tape” and political considerations).

The direct and public incitement of genocide is criminalised under international law. Incitement is the act of trying to create the mindset in others that will result in the commission of a crime (in this case, genocide). Incitement often plays in a critical role in transforming anger and hatred into actual acts of violence. The prohibition on direct and public incitement to commit genocide in international criminal law could be said to be a means of prevention (if incitement were prosecuted prior to acts of genocide), however incitement has only been prosecuted after genocide has already transpired (for example in Rwanda).

Genocide does not spontaneously occur, usually the groundwork of genocide is laid months or years in advance. Moreover, the systematic use of violence and human rights violations are always precursors to genocide itself. There are usually multitudinous warnings before genocide is perpetrated. Therefore, ignorance is not a valid excuse - the international community must posses the political will to take meaningful action to prevent and interdict genocide.