1. (a) Killing members of the group
Genocide means any of the following acts committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group, as such:
(a) Killing members of the group
(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 in part
The term GENOCIDE did not exist before 1944.

2. (d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group
(e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another
Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide
Genocidal acts need not kill or cause the death of members of a group. Causing serious bodily or mental harm, prevention of births and transfer of children are acts of genocide when committed as part of a policy to destroy a group’s existence.
It is a crime to plan or incite genocide, even before killing starts, and to aid or abet genocide.
The crime of genocide has two elements: intent and action. The law protects four groups: national, ethnical, racial or religious groups.

3. Genocide is a process that develops in eight stages that are predictable but not inexorable. Later stages must be preceded by earlier stages, but all stages continue to operate throughout the process. At each stage, preventative measures can stop it.

4. Stage One - Classification
All cultures have categories to distinguish themselves into “us” and “them” by ethnicity, race, religion or nationality.
Societies that identify their population by categories like black/white or Muslim/Christian

5. Preventing Genocide: Stage One
The promotion of tolerance and understanding that promotes the classifications beyond the divisions that it creates; search for a common bond Example: The Catholic Church could have played this role in Rwanda but didn’t because it recognized the same ethnic divisions as Rwandan society.

6. Stage Two - Symbolization
We give names or other symbols to the classifications.

7. Preventing Genocide: Stage Two
Hate symbols can be legally forbidden as can hate speech but must be supported by popular cultural enforcement Examples: Swastikas outlawed in Germany; gang clothing or tribal scarring outlawed Denial of symbolization is also powerful Example: Many non-Jews decided to wear the yellow star depriving it of its significance as a Nazi symbol for Jews

8. Classification and symbolization are universally human and do not necessarily result in genocide unless they lead to the next stage …

9. Stage Three - Dehumanization
One group denies the humanity of the other group equating them with animals, vermin, insects or diseases This overcomes the normal human revulsion against murder and is often done through hate propaganda in print or radio to vilify the group

11. Preventing Genocide: Stage Three
Genocidal societies lack constitutional protections against hateful speech Hate crimes and atrocities need to be promptly punished Example: In Rwanda the hate radio stations should have been shut down and hate propaganda banned

12. Stage Four - Organization
Genocide is always organized, usually by the state, often using militia to provide deniability of state responsibility Sometimes organization is informal (mobs) or decentralized (terrorist groups) Special army units or militias are often trained and armed and plans are made for genocidal killings

14. Preventing Genocide: Stage Four
Membership in militias should be outlawed Deny leaders visas for foreign travel The U.N. could impose arms embargoes and create commissions to investigate countries who violate embargo Example: Post-genocide Rwanda

15. Stage Five - Polarization
Extremists drive the groups apart; hate groups broadcast polarizing propaganda; laws are made forbidding intermarriage or social interaction Extremists target moderates by intimidation and silencing the center

17. Preventing Genocide: Stage Five
Security protection for moderate leaders International assistance to human rights groups Assets of extremists seized Coups opposed by international sanctions

18. Stage Six - Preparation
Victims are identified and separated out because of their ethnic or religious identity; death lists are drawn up; members of certain groups are forced to wear identifying symbols Their property is often expropriated and they are segregated into ghettos or deported to concentration camps or confined to a famine struck region and starved

21. Preventing Genocide: Stage Six
A Genocide Alert must be called U.S. NATO and U.N. security Council should mobilize an armed international intervention Assistance to victim group for self-defense

22. Stage Seven - Extermination
When it begins it quickly becomes mass killing; considered extermination by the killers because they do not believe their victims to be fully human When state sponsored the armed forces often work with the militias to do the killing

24. Preventing Genocide: Stage Seven
Only rapid and overwhelming armed intervention can stop genocide Real safe areas and refugee escape corridors established If the U.N. won’t intervene then militarily powerful nations should assist (U.S.)

25. Stage Eight - Denial
This stage always follows a genocide – mass graves are dug up and bodies burned; evidence covered up and witnesses are intimidated Denial that any crimes have been committed; blame laid on the victims; investigations are blocked; perpetrators continue to rule until driven from power when they then flee into exile trying to remain without impunity

26. Preventing Genocide: Stage Eight
Punishment by an international tribunal or national courts Examples: Tribunals like those in Bosnia, Rwanda or Sierra Leone; International Criminal Court (The Hague)