What is Genocide?

Genocide is an act of purposefully destroying an entire group of people from a nation, race, or ethnic background. It is a crime under international law and considered a severe violation of human rights. Genocide has been perpetrated throughout history, from ancient wars to modern conflicts.

The term genocide was coined in 1944 by Raphael Lemkin, a lawyer of Polish-Jewish descent. He used the contraction of the Greek terms genos (tribe or people) and cide (killing). Lemkin was the first to define genocide under international law in his book Axis Rule in Occupied Europe (1944). In it, he described acts of national, racial, and religious persecution that had been committed during World War II.

From the Holocaust to Rwanda: Understanding the Historical Context of Genocide

The most well-known instance of genocide is the Holocaust, in which Nazi Germany and its collaborators systematically murdered an estimated six million Jews along with other minority groups such as homosexuals, Roma, and the disabled. However, it is not the only example of genocide in modern history.

The mass killing of 800,000 Rwandans in 1994 is an example of genocide. The insurrection arose from tensions between the Hutu and Tutsi people, which had been instigated by Belgian colonial oppression and European powers. The violence was so extreme that in some cases entire villages were wiped out and women and children were sexually assaulted.

The atrocities in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the early 1990s are also considered to be genocide. During the conflict ethnic Serbs conducted military operations against ethnic Croats and Bosnian Muslims, killing over 40,000 people and driving millions from their homes.

Genocide Today

Today, the issue of genocide remains a major concern. Multiple facts-on-the-ground attest to the presence of genocide in today’s world, such as the genocidal campaign being perpetrated by the Islamic State against minority groups in the Middle East, or the genocide of the Rohingya people in Myanmar, who have been subject to ethnic cleansing and human rights abuses.

Conclusion

Genocide is a crime under international law and a serious violation of human rights. Though it has been perpetrated throughout history, it continues to happen in the present day. It is important to remember the words of Raphael Lemkin, who courageously tried to address this issue: “The aim of genocide is to eradicate a group, either completely or partially. It is an effort to destroy the spirit of a nation, the soul of a people”.