​definitions

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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"
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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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