Genocide in International Law : The Crimes of Crimes

The provisions of the 1948 Genocide Convention are now being interpreted in important judgments by the International Court of Justice, the ad hoc Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, and increasingly in domestic courts. In this definitive work William A. Schabas gives detailed attention to the concept of protected groups, the quantitative dimension of genocide, problems of criminal prosecution, and issues of international judicial cooperations such as extradition. He explores the duty to prevent genocide, and the consequences this may have on the emerging law of humanitarian intervention. The 1948 Genocide Convention has suddenly become a vital legal tool in the international campaign against impunity. The succinct provisions of the Convention are now being interpreted in important judgements by the International Court of Justice, the ad hoc Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, and a growing number of domestic courts. In this definitive work William A. Schabas focuses on the judicial interpretation of the Convention, debates in the International Law Commission, political statements in bodies like the General Assembly of the United Nations, and the growing body of case law. Detailed attention is given to the concept of protected groups, to the quantitative dimension of genocide, to problems of criminal prosecution including defenses and complicity, and to issues of international judicial cooperations such as extradition. He also explores the duty to prevent genocide, and the consequences this may have on the emerging law of humanitarian intervention. This text focuses on the judicial interpretation of the 1948 Genocide Convention, debates in the International Law Commission, political statements in bodies like the General Assembly of the United Nations and the growing body of case law