What is the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide?
The Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide is a human rights law designed to protect the rights of all people around the world. It was created in 1948 by the United Nations and ratified by the United States in 1988. The Convention defines genocide as any act committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, racial, ethnic, or religious group. It includes acts such as killing members of a group, causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of a group, deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction, and imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group. Under the Convention, genocide is deemed to be a crime under international law and those who commit it can be held accountable. The Convention also makes it illegal to incite or attempt to commit genocide. In Washington State, the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide is codified in state law. This means that any activity that is considered genocide is illegal and violators can be charged, tried, and convicted in Washington State. Any person convicted of genocide can face civil damages or criminal penalties that may include fines and imprisonment.
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