This refers to certain acts that are deliberately committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against any civilian population. These acts are considered severe violations of human rights and are viewed as among the most serious crimes under international law. They include a range of actions that are intended to harm civilians on a massive scale, often associated with state or organizational policies or practices.

Key elements of Crimes Against Humanity include:

Widespread or Systematic Attack: The crimes must be part of a large-scale, systematic approach, meaning they are not isolated incidents. They are generally orchestrated by governments, state actors, or large organizations rather than by individual perpetrators acting alone.

Targeting of Civilian Populations: The victims are primarily civilians, rather than combatants or armed groups. This distinguishes Crimes Against Humanity from regular acts of war or traditional crimes.

Intentional and Deliberate Acts: The crimes are committed knowingly and intentionally, often with clear planning and coordination.

Examples of Crimes Against Humanity:

Some specific acts that can qualify as Crimes Against Humanity under international law include:

Murder: Systematic killing of civilians.

Extermination: Intentional infliction of conditions designed to destroy part of a population, often through starvation or forced displacement.

Enslavement: Including trafficking and forced labor.

Deportation or Forced Transfer of Population: Forcibly removing people from their homes.

Imprisonment or Severe Deprivation of Physical Liberty: Unlawfully detaining large numbers of civilians.

Torture: Systematic physical or psychological abuse.

Rape, Sexual Slavery, and Other Forms of Sexual Violence: Widespread sexual violence committed against civilians.

Persecution: Severe discrimination against identifiable groups, often on political, racial, or religious grounds.

Enforced Disappearance of Persons: Abduction or forced disappearance of individuals.

Apartheid: Institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination.

Legal Frameworks

Crimes Against Humanity are outlined in various international agreements and legal frameworks, including:

The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC): Defines and establishes jurisdiction over Crimes Against Humanity.

The Geneva Conventions: Although primarily concerned with the treatment of combatants and civilians in times of war, these also address crimes against civilians.

Prosecution and Enforcement

International tribunals, like the International Criminal Court (ICC) and ad hoc courts (such as those for Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia), have been established to prosecute Crimes Against Humanity. Enforcement is challenging, as it often involves complex political, diplomatic, and jurisdictional issues.

Crimes Against Humanity are considered so grave that they are typically beyond the scope of regular national courts.