Reviving the Genocide Convention’s Preventive Purpose

Authors

Yonah Diamond, Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human RightsFollow
John Packer, University of Ottawa, Faculty of LawFollow

Abstract

The contemporary discourse on genocide is dominated by international criminal law, designed to
punish individuals after the fact. This article proposes a legal framework derived from Public
International Law and the Genocide Convention’s original purpose to prevent genocide. We
clarify the conceptual and practical differences between individual criminal responsibility for the
crime of genocide and State responsibility for breaches of the Genocide Convention, including
distinct standards of proof and indicia of intent. We propose correctives to prevailing errors. We
argue for a more appropriate and flexible standard of proof for State breaches of the Genocide
Convention. We further outline a novel method for inferring genocidal intent from systematic
genocidal acts targeting a protected group, as indicia of genocidal intent. Finally, we urge States
to domesticate the duty to prevent in law and policy, offering broad recommendations for the
establishment of atrocity prevention institutions to better implement the duty to prevent and
responsibility to protect populations at risk of mass atrocities worldwide.

First Page

26

Last Page

45

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5038/1911-9933.18.2.1984

Recommended Citation

Diamond, Yonah and Packer, John (2024) "Reviving the Genocide Convention’s Preventive Purpose," Genocide Studies and Prevention: An International Journal: Vol. 18: Iss. 2: 26–45.
DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5038/1911-9933.18.2.1984

Creative Commons License

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