The Imperative of Genocide Prevention and Elimination

Abstract

The challenges of genocide prevention are great and the matter is urgent. A systematic overview on the tasks, procedures, institutions and voids of genocide prevention is required.² My above toolbox covers the most important areas to reduce, prevent and eliminate genocide. Today effective instruments, practical procedures and respected institutions necessary to achieve these noble goals are only partly in place: most instruments and institutions for averting, preventing and outlawing genocide have yet to be created.

Humanitarian law […] has reached new heights today with the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. We are talking about a Court that will take on genocide, crimes against humanity and all the kind of barbarities that we witness every day [in the media], coming from diverse parts of the world — enforced disappearances, sexual crimes and torture — that affect the most elementary rights of every human being. It is difficult to believe that countries that take pride in being champions of the fundamental rights [may make any] attempt to question this instrument.

Judge Baltasar Garzón, 2000¹