Rwanda in 1994, and Law in a Global Context - Essay Example

I do not believe that a more global legal system could be created or organized with any impact on genocide. The reason is genocide happens during wars, conflicts, and other armed skirmishes. The definition of genocide depends on the victor in any type of war. Germany and Russia both participated in genocide during World War II, but only the Nazis were put on trial afterwards. Stalin never faced consequences for mass extermination of Chechnya or other groups. There is a global legal system in place.

The International Criminal Tribunal exists to prosecute crimes against humanity. The punishment doled out at the International Criminal Tribunal is generally after the fact. Leaders like Milosevic and others are jailed and tried long after the conflict ends. It normally takes International intervention from NATO or other countries to topple a government that allowed genocide. Only then can the genocide stop or be punished. The only way to prevent future Rwandas would be a legal definition of genocide that every country, territory, and state of the world agreed to.

This will not happen anytime soon. If every country decided against war, maybe genocide could be stopped. The problem is genocide never happens without war or armed conflict. The confusion of the war helps camouflage the genocide. Rumors then float back to the outside world. By the time the world gets undeniable facts that genocide is occurring, the genocide is over. If the genocide is not over, then countries decide to act in their own interest. An example would the United States’ aerial photos of Auschwitz.

Genocide is condemned by countries that are not willing to sacrifice their citizens to save others. The US or European countries did not intervene directly in the Rwanda genocide because it was not in their best interest. Genocide will only be eradicated when war is no longer an option. That is not realistic. An expanded legal system to deter genocide is not realistic either. An expanded legal system might punish the guilty, but not deter the actions.