A Quick Reminder of What Constitutes as a War Crime
War is a brutal reality, but even amidst the madness, there are rules. International law dictates the conduct of armed conflict, aiming to protect civilians and limit unnecessary suffering. Violations of these laws constitute war crimes.
Here's a breakdown of what war crimes are and why they matter:
What are War Crimes?
War crimes are grave breaches of the laws and customs of war, triggering individual criminal prosecution. These laws are established by international treaties and customary practices that nations have followed for a long time.
What Acts Constitute War Crimes?
There's a range of acts considered war crimes, including:
Targeting civilians: Deliberately attacking civilians or objects with no military purpose is a war crime. This includes indiscriminate shelling, using civilians as human shields, or attacking hospitals and schools.
Cruelty to prisoners of war: Prisoners of war deserve humane treatment, including food, water, and medical care. Torture, mutilation, and executions of prisoners are all war crimes.
Hostage-taking: Seizing and holding civilians or military personnel to force a particular action is a war crime.
Genocide: The deliberate attempt to destroy a whole group of people, in whole or in part, based on race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, or political group, is the most serious war crime.
Why are War Crimes Important?
War crimes hold immense importance as they deter future atrocities, ensure justice for victims through prosecution, and maintain a semblance of order during the conflict by upholding international law and protecting civilians.
Who enforces War Crimes?
The International Criminal Court (ICC) serves as the leading entity for investigating and prosecuting individuals charged with war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. Additionally, national courts can pursue cases of war crimes through the principle of universal jurisdiction, enabling any country to prosecute individuals for the gravest international offenses, irrespective of where they occurred. War crimes serve as a somber testament to the darkest facets of warfare. Comprehending these transgressions and the global endeavors to forestall them is pivotal in forging a future where civilians are more effectively shielded amid armed conflict.
PLEASE CONSIDER A PAID SUBSCRIPTION TO THIS SUBSTACK TO HELP KEEP INDEPENDENT, AGENDA-FREE WRITING AND JOURNALISM ALIVE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
For speaking queries please contact meta@metaspeakers.org
For ghostwriting, personalized mentoring or other writing/work-related queries please contact hollie@holliemckay.com
Follow me on Instagram and Twitter for more updates
To Pre-Order The Dictator’s Wife (out June 10) or purchase any other books by Hollie McKay click here
I rather suspect that the ICC and war crimes statutes are about as effective in achieving your proposed objectives as the war on drugs was in reducing drug deaths in America.