What is Genocide? Bones at the Nazi concentration camp of Majdanek in the outskirts of Lublin 1944

General definition of Genocide The deliberate killing of a large group of people, especially those of a particular ethnic group

United Nation’s definition of Genocide “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:” Killing members of the group; Established December 9th 1948 by International Convention of the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide

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 part;

d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group www.pinterest.com600 × 412Search by image28 Dec 42: Sterilization experiments begin on women prisoners at the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration

e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group Jewish twins kept alive to be used in Mengele's medical experiments. These children were liberated from Auschwitz by the Red Army in January 1945.

What do you think causes genocide?

Eight Stages of Genocide NOTE: Not all of these steps are necessary for a genocide to occur nor must they happen in the order presented here -Not all 8 steps are necessary or happen in order as listed in order for genocide to occur

STAGE 1: CLASSIFICATION “us vs. them” Universally human Bipolar societies are most likely to have genocide Prevention? Promoting tolerance Search for common ground Promote inclusive national identity

STAGE 2: SYMBOLIZATION Universally human Give names or symbols to classifications When combined with hate, can be forced on unwilling members Prevention? Laws making symbols and hate speech illegal Popular culture must stop enforcing it Denial of symbolization

STAGE 3: DEHUMANIZATION Members of one group are equated to animals, insects, diseases, etc. Makes it easier to kill someone Prevention? Ban hate crimes Shut down hate in the media Ban hate propaganda

STAGE 4: ORGANIZATION Genocide is always organized, usually by the state….sometimes informally, or sometimes by a terrorist group Special army units/militias are trained Plans are made for killings Prevention? Outlawing membership Impose arms embargoes on suspected governments Investigate violations

STAGE 5: POLARIZATION Groups are driven further apart by laws or propaganda Extremist terrorism targets moderates Prevention? Protection of moderate leaders Seize assets/documents of extremists International sanctions Targets moderates so as to intimidate and silence the center

STAGE 6: PREPARATION Victims are identified Members of victim groups forced to wear identifying symbols and segregated into ghettoes, camps, or confined to famine-struck regions Prevention? Armed international intervention Assistance to victim group for self-defense Humanitarian assistance

STAGE 7: EXTERMINATION Mass killings begin May also involve revenge killings by groups against each other Prevention? Rapid and overwhelming armed intervention Refugee escape corridors must be established and protected by armed internationals

STAGE 8: DENIAL Always follows a genocide Largest predictor of future genocides Evidence destroyed, witnesses intimidated Victims are blamed, investigations blocked Governing group remains until drove into exile Prevention? Punishment by international tribunal or national courts