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​​crimes against ​humanity
presented here for educational purposes only
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​​On the 17th of July 1998, the International Criminal Court adopted the Rome Statute, which includes a comprehensive definition of the term "crimes against humanity."

"For the purpose of this Statute, "crime against humanity" means any of the following acts when committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against any civilian population, with knowledge of the attack:

(a) Murder;

(b) Extermination;

(c) Enslavement;

(d) Deportation or forcible transfer of population;

(e) Imprisonment or other severe deprivation of physical liberty in violation of fundamental rules of international law;

(f) Torture;

(g) Rape, sexual slavery, enforced prostitution, forced pregnancy, enforced sterilization, or any other form of sexual violence of comparable gravity;

(h) Persecution against any identifiable group or collectivity on political, racial, national, ethnic, cultural, religious, gender* [...] or other grounds that are universally recognized as impermissible under international law, in connection with any act referred to in this paragraph or any crime within the jurisdiction of the Court;

(i) Enforced disappearance of persons;

(j) The crime of apartheid;

​(k) Other inhumane acts of a similar character intentionally causing great suffering, or serious injury to body or to mental or physical health."

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*According to this Statute, "the term "gender" refers to the two sexes, male and female, within the context of society"



This definition of "crimes against humanity" is presented here for educational purposes only. The full text, including detailed definitions of terms, can be found in Article 7 ​of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Read the full text of the Statute on the website of the United Nations at this link.


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