Genocide in international law: the crime of crimes

Origins of the legal prohibition of genocide -- Drafting of the Convention and subsequent normative developments -- Groups protected by the Convention -- The physical element or actus reus of genocide -- The mental element or mens rea of genocide -- 'Other acts' of genocide -- Defences to genocide -- Prosecution of genocide by international and domestic tribunals -- State responsibility and the role of the International Court of Justice -- Prevention of genocide -- Treaty law questions and the Convention.

The provisions of the 1948 Genocide Convention are now being interpreted in important judgments by the International Court of Justice, the ad hoc Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, and increasingly in domestic courts. In this definitive work William A. Schabas gives detailed attention to the concept of protected groups, the quantitative dimension of genocide, problems of criminal prosecution, and issues of international judicial cooperations such as extradition. He explores the duty to prevent genocide, and the consequences this may have on the emerging law of humanitarian interve

Origins of the legal prohibition of genocide -- Drafting of the convention and subsequent normative developments -- Grounds protected by the convention -- The physical element or actus reus of genocide -- The mental element of mens rea of genocide -- 'Other acts' of genocide -- Defences to genocide -- Prosecution of genocide by international and domestic tribunals -- State responsibility and the role of the international court of justice -- Prevention of genocide -- Treaty law questions and the convention