Resolution 260
(December 9, 1948)
Convention on the Prevention
And Punishment of the Crime of Genocide
U.N.T.S. No. 1021, vol. 78 (1951), p. 277
Adopted by Resolution 260 (III) A of the United Nations
General Assembly on 9 December 1948.
The Contracting Parties,
Having considered the declaration made by the General
Assembly of the United Nations in its resolution 96 (I) dated 11 December
1946 that genocide is a crime under international law, contrary to the
spirit and aims of the United Nations and condemned by the civilized
world;
Recognizing that at all periods of history genocide
has inflicted great losses on humanity; and
Being convinced that, in order to liberate mankind
from such an odious scourge, international cooperation is required;
Hereby agree as hereinafter provided.
Article 1. The Contracting Parties confirm that
genocide, whether committed in time of peace or in time of war, is a
crime under international law which they undertake to prevent and to
punish.
Article. 2. In the present Convention, genocide
means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in
whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as
such:
(a) Killing members of the group;
(b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members
of the group; (c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of
life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or
in part; (d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the
group; (e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.
Article 3. 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.
Article 4. Persons committing genocide or any
of the other acts enumerated in Article 3 shall be punished, whether
they are constitutionally responsible rulers, public officials or private
individuals.
Article 5. The Contracting Parties undertake
to enact, in accordance with their respective Constitutions, the necessary
legislation to give effect to the provisions of the present Convention
and, in particular, to provide effective penalties for persons guilty
of genocide or any of the other acts enumerated in Article 3.
Article 6. Persons charged with genocide or
any of the other acts enumerated in Article 3 shall be tried by a competent
tribunal of the State in the territory of which the act was committed,
or by such international penal tribunal as may have jurisdiction with
respect to those Contracting Parties which shall have accepted its jurisdiction.
Article 7. Genocide and the other acts enumerated
in Article 3 shall not be considered as political crimes for the purpose
of extradition.
The Contracting Parties pledge themselves in such
cases to grant extradition in accordance with their laws and treaties
in force.
Article 8. Any Contracting Party may call upon
the competent organs of the United Nations to take such action under
the Charter of the United Nations.
Sources: Internet
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