The Word Genocide

Genocide, “crimes against humanity” or “mass atrocity crimes” are unique because it targets, in whole a specific religious, racial, national, or ethnic group for extinction. Referring to the international convention, genocide can include any of the following criteria targeted in the groups listed above:

-Causing serious bodily or mental harm

-Killing

-Deliberately inflicting “conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part”

-Imposing measures to prevent birth

-Forcibly transferring children from a targeted group

I feel as though politics and diplomacy play a large part in what we label conflict. Obligations arise if mass murders became named Genocide. So where do we draw the line between War and Genocide? Where do we draw the line between War and terrorism? The fact is, there is no answer. According to the government, given the situation, conflicts are labelled differently to best suit the convenience of the political and economic situation of the government.