War crimes
War Crimes
War crimes (/wɔːr kraɪmz/) are serious violations of the laws and customs of war which are committed during armed conflict.
Etymology
The term "war crime" has been in use since the early 20th century, but its definition and concept have evolved significantly since then. The word "war" comes from the Old English wyrre and the Old High German werra, meaning strife or confusion. The word "crime" comes from the Latin crimen, meaning charge or offense.
Definition
War crimes encompass a range of conduct prohibited by international law, including intentionally killing civilians or other persons not taking part in hostilities, torturing or inhuman treatment, taking hostages, and using prohibited weapons or tactics. These crimes are considered so serious that they are often regarded as "crimes against humanity."
Related Terms
- Crimes against humanity: A category of legal offenses that involve widespread or systematic attacks against civilians.
- Genocide: The deliberate killing of a large number of people from a particular ethnic or national group.
- International humanitarian law: A set of rules which seek, for humanitarian reasons, to limit the effects of armed conflict.
- International Criminal Court: An intergovernmental organization and international tribunal that has jurisdiction to prosecute individuals for the international crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression.
Legal Framework
The legal framework for the prosecution of war crimes is provided by international law, particularly the Geneva Conventions and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. These laws provide the basis for holding individuals and states accountable for war crimes.
Prosecution
War crimes are typically prosecuted by international tribunals, such as the International Criminal Court or the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. However, national courts may also have jurisdiction over war crimes committed by their own citizens or within their own territory.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on War crimes
- Wikipedia's article - War crimes
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski