Rwanda Civil War

“As defined in article 2 of the Convention of the Prevention of the Crime of Genocide, genocide is any act with intent to liquidate a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group” (“Office of the UN...”1) . Genocide has been an issue around the world for several centuries, and sadly it continues to this day. There is one specific genocide that many historians study, the forced evacuation of the Chechens. Although this may be classified as a relocation, it was declared an act of genocide by the European Parliament in 2004 (Brauer and “Office of the UN…”).

The United nations refused to intervene during the genocide but instead provided humanitarian aid. As time went on they established six “safe area.” These efforts failed because the U.N. was not prepared or didn’t have the correct resources. The hostile situation went on for over four years. In the beginning of the Bosnian War, U.N. did nothing to stop mass executions, concentration camps, rape and sexual violence, and forced displacement. Again, their role was to show a presence, give assistance when needed and be

According to the Chambers Dictionary, “genocide is the deliberate extermination of racial, or ethnic group”(Definition). For example, if people were trying to kill all of the black people it would be considered a genocide because they are an ethnic group. Genocide always has mass killings. The 1948(Genocide1932) genocide convention says that countries who signed

Within the definition of genocide there are two major portions: the mental and the physical elements. The mental element is all about the “Intent to destroy” part or all of a “group” (national, ethnical, racial, religious) whereas the physical element is the

‘For the purpose of this Statute, ‘genocide’ means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group…….’

Genocide is a term that can be defined as a planned and systematic destruction of whole or parts of certain national, religious, race, ethnic, cultural or political group (Akhavan 21). Genocide is deliberated with a different set of actions for a purpose to destroy an essential foundation of life. Genocide is characterized with the massive killing of members of a group, causing mental or bodily injuries to a group of people, imposing mechanisms to prevent birth, removing particular group children and putting conditions of life in order to bring to an end existence of a particular group. Therefore, genocide is an illegal action and a crime recognized and punishable by international law (Charmy 35). For instance, Rwanda genocide is characterized by ethnic tensions within the country. Initially the definition of the term genocide as by genocide convection only comprised of racial, ethnic, national and religious groups. They argued that inclusion of other groups cannot strengthen but rather weakens it. This definition failed to recognize other groups such as political groups, economic and cultural groups that are essential elements of genocide. Genocide therefore, is generally considered the worst moral crime the ruling authority can commit against those it controls Naimark (2017).

Genocide is definitely a huge problem that has troubled the world in the past, and still continues to do so. The United Nations must intervene in genocide because it is their job. If they are not going to try and solve problems, then the supranational organization can be disbanded, and World War III will be the result. According to the Office of the Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide, the United Nations has a few roles when it comes to genocide. First of all, they are supposed to raise awareness of genocide, by teaching States and their governments to institute prevention mechanisms, and how to handle ethnic diversity so that the different ethnic groups can coexist peacefully. Secondly, they are supposed to collect information on serious violations of human rights and humanitarian laws, that if not stopped may lead to genocide. They, in a timely matter, must also report situations of concern to the Security Council. Lastly, they are required to mobilize the United Nations’ system and other key partners to conduct missions to countries where intervention is needed. As previous genocides have shown us, the United Nations do not perform these acts to the extent that they are required to do so. According to these genocide guidelines that were created at the Convention for Genocide Prevention, there is absolutely no excuse for mass ethnic atrocities and genocides. When, and if, the United

Various explanations and descriptions of genocide exist. “Genocide is foremost an international crime for which individuals, no matter how high in authority, may be indicted, tried, and punished by the international criminal court” (Rummel). In general, it is considered genocide when the following are committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part a group: Killing members of a group; causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of a group; deliberately inflicting conditions of life calculated to

In 1994 civilian violence in the East African nation of Rwanda claimed the lives of an estimated 800,000 people. Known as the Rwandan genocide, this event resulted from decades of internal strife between Rwanda's two main ethnic groups, the Hutus and the Tutsis. Though the bloodshed followed the assassination of Rwandan president Juvénal Habyarimana on April 6, 1994, the nation's internal conflict was rooted in its colonial and early postcolonial history.

Genocide is a term that can be defined as a planned and systematic destruction of whole or parts of certain national, religious, race, ethnic, cultural or political group (Akhavan 21). Genocide is deliberated with a different set of actions for a purpose to destroy an essential foundation of life. Genocide is characterized with the massive killing of members of a group, causing mental or bodily injuries to a group of people, imposing mechanisms to prevent birth, removing particular group children and putting conditions of life in order to bring to an end existence of a particular group. Therefore, genocide is an illegal action and a crime recognized and punishable by international law (Charmy 35). For instance, Rwanda genocide is characterized by ethnic tensions within the country. Initially the definition of the term genocide as by genocide convection only comprised of racial, ethnic, national and religious groups. They argued that inclusion of other groups cannot strengthen but rather weakens it. This definition failed to recognize other groups such as political groups, economic and cultural groups that are essential elements of genocide. Genocide therefore, is generally considered the worst moral crime the ruling authority can commit against those it controls Naimark (2017).

Genocides are an act of mass murdering for a certain reason, some of the genocides that have happened has been because of hatred against a certain religion, Race, appearance, gender, and many more. Genocides have happened in many occasions throughout time one of the most well genocides know around the world is the holocaust which was a genocide that wiped the majority of the Jewish race. Many other genocides have happened around the world that aren't well known because it wasn't at a scale like the holocaust, but it doesn't make the act any less horrible. Some other well-known genocide, that are only a small portion of the total cases of genocides are the Rwanda,Haiti,Darfur,Bosnia,Cambodia genocides which are genocides that happen throughout

History has a funny way of repeating itself. After World War II, the United States and the rest of the international community promised to do all they could to prevent future genocides. However this was a promise they were unable to keep. In 1994 when Rwanda went through genocide the United States and U.N were absent, leaving the Tutsis to be brutally murdered by the Hutus. As a consequence 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed and dumped into mass graves. Once again the United States and U.N promised to do more, but this time it was too late.

Rwanda had a civil war with two of the most known tribes fighting with one another inside the very same country. Many innocent people died in a monarchy run government, which was shortly pushed out of business when the presidential plane was shot down and caused the death of the president himself. In Rwanda, Hutsis made up the majority of the Population; although, they were not justified to take over the government and form a major genocide. Once the Hustis took over the government, the Tutsis were having difficulties with the strict laws and colonial rules; therefore, the tribe and race rebelled against the Hutsis.

Pope Francis has asked for forgiveness for the Catholic Church’s “sins and failings” in the 1994 Rwandan genocide, but the African state’s government indicated that the apology was not enough as there were suspects who still have not been brought to justice.

Article III of the Convention provides that the following acts shall be punishable: (a) Genocide; (b) Conspiracy to commit genocide; (c) Direct and public incitement to commit genocide. (d) Attempt to commit genocide; (e) Complicity in genocide.’ Under Article IV ‘Persons committing genocide or any of the other acts enumerated in Article III shall be punished, whether they are constitutionally responsible rulers, public officials or private individuals,’ Returning to the definition of genocide in Article II, it will be seen that the essence of the offence lies in a particular intent, namely the intent to destroy in whole or in part a national, ethnical, racial or religious group as