America and "Crimes Against Humanity" - Sir Geoffrey Nice QC

TL;DR

Crimes against humanity have evolved over the years, with the term being used in various historical contexts and gaining legal recognition after World War II.

Transcript

focusing on genocide as the public does it is now clearly a subset of crimes against humanity what do we know about the term crimes against humanity around for a couple of hundred years one early use is attributed to rose beer who described louis xvi as a criminal against humanity the term featured in Abraham Lincoln's 1860 electoral platform when ... Read More

Key Insights

• 🍉 The term "crimes against humanity" has a long history, stretching back several centuries.
• 🇺🇸 The United States initially did not fully embrace the concept of crimes against humanity, particularly in the context of the Armenian massacres.
• ❓ The Nuremberg trials were pivotal in establishing crimes against humanity as a distinct and punishable offense.

Questions & Answers

Q: When and how did the term "crimes against humanity" first emerge?

The term "crimes against humanity" has been used for a couple of hundred years, with early mentions attributed to individuals like Rose Beer and Abraham Lincoln. It gained legal recognition in a 1915 declaration about the Armenian massacres.

Q: Was the United States initially supportive of the concept of crimes against humanity?

Initially, the United States did not endorse the condemnation of crimes against humanity in the Armenian massacres declaration. US Secretary of State Robert Lansing argued that the Turkish government had a justifiable right to deport Armenians due to the zone of military operations.

Q: How did the Nuremberg trials contribute to the definition of crimes against humanity?

The Nuremberg trials after World War II included crimes against humanity as a category, solidifying its legal significance. Justice Jackson, during the conference preceding the trials, emphasized that crimes against humanity should not cover acts performed by countries like the United States in their own past.

Q: What role did Raphael Lemkin play in the evolution of the term?

Raphael Lemkin, who coined the term "genocide" in 1943, realized that pre-war or post-war actions against certain groups, such as the Jews, were not covered by the concept of crimes against humanity. He pushed for the passage of the Genocide Convention at the United Nations to address this gap.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Crimes against humanity have been recognized for centuries, with early uses attributed to individuals like Rose Beer and Abraham Lincoln.

• The term gained legal significance in the 1915 declaration about the Armenian massacres, although the United States initially did not endorse it.

• The concept of crimes against humanity was further solidified during the Nuremberg trials after World War II.