Context:
- South Africa recently asked the International Court of Justice for a fast decision. This order would say that Israel is not sticking to its duties under a 1948 rule about stopping huge killings.
- The World Court is a United Nations place where countries can solve arguments.
- Israel firmly said no to South Africa’s request, calling it a “blood libel.”
What is the UN’s Genocide Convention?
- The UN agreement on stopping and punishing crimes against humanity gives a clear version of what genocide is. It says things done with the goal to destroy specific groups based on nationality, ethnicity, race or religion are part of it.
- This rule was made in 1948.
- The UN Genocide Convention is special because it was the first treaty about human rights.
- The 9th of December is International Day to Honor and Show Respect for Victims of Genocide Crime. It also reminds everyone around the world about when the agreement against Genocide was created.
Criteria for Genocide:
- The convention identifies five actions that are considered acts of genocide: killing members of a group, causing serious harm to their bodies or minds, creating conditions that aim to physically destroy them, implementing measures to prevent their reproduction, and forcibly taking away their children.
Role of India:
India took part in the development of the Genocide Convention and subsequently approved it in the month of August in the year 1959.
International Court of Justice (ICJ):
- The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is a top legal group in the United Nations. It’s often called ‘World Court’.
- It was set up in 1945 and is found in The Hague, Netherlands.
- The ICJ settles legal problems worldwide and can handle both contentious cases between countries and give advice on law issues asked of it by UN groups or specialised agencies.
- The Court has 15 judges who work for nine years.
- The United Nations members are chosen by both the General Assembly and Security Council.
- The Court has 15 judges in total. They are split up into different areas. There are three judges from Africa, two from Latin America and the Caribbean. Three come from Asia, five more are chosen in Western Europe including other states too; lastly we got just a pair of those representing Eastern Europe as well.
- The Peace Palace, located in The Hague, Netherlands, is the designated headquarters of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
- It is distinctive in that it is the sole principal organ of the United Nations that is not based in New York, USA.
Source: Indian Express
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