Genocide

Abstract

This article explores the expectations placed on the law of genocide and the realities of what international criminal justice can provide in applying it. It traces a number of problems and identifies the law as inevitably falling short of the significant expectations placed on it. Although recognizing the political realities of the crime of genocide make this highly challenging, this article argues that definitional normative issues must be addressed. Above all the international community must achieve clarity as to what purpose it pursues using the law of genocide and must further reconsider how it does so. It is apparent that the law of genocide is applied in a variety of contexts for a number of purposes. This contribution ventures that each area should be treated individually without the expectation that a “one size fits all” solution exists. A failure to act accordingly will result in further disappointment with this highly symbolic norm and ultimately undermine international criminal law and justice as a whole.