Turning a Blind Eye
November 1, 2009
Rafael Lemkin wanted to ensure that an event like the Holocaust never happened again. Who defines Genocide? Who is held accountable when Genocide occurs?
Genos is a Greek word for family, tribe or race; cide is the Latin word for killing. Rafael Lemkin coined this term in 1943 and gave mass ethnic related killings a face. Lemkin worked towards preventing genocide and punishing those who committed acts of genocide. His life work attempted to secure that genocide when committed would be identified, stopped, and punished. Has Lemkin’s efforts paid off in today’s modern world, where genocide is familiarized?
Genocide has occurred within the past 30 years in Russia, China, Germany, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Armenia, Darfur, Japan, Yugoslavia and Uganda. The United Nations has only declared Genocide 9 times within this century; Darfur is a prime example of what the United Nations has refused to declare genocide for so long. Lemkin was the first individual to define genocide as a “crime against humanity” rather then a war crime. The United Nations accepts Lemkin’s definition which declares genocide as any of the following acts: a) killing members of the group; b) causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; c) deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; d) imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; e) forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.
The acceptation of this definition still leaves the United Nations hesitant to declare genocide. Their declaration of genocide would imply stopping the genocide. Many presidents and politicians often insist that on their watch, a situation like the holocaust or any genocide will be prevented or stopped. If genocide is not recognized there is nothing to stop or fight against. Genocide is defined clearly and appropriately. The identification of the word has not encouraged the identification of the actual act until it is often too late. It is the responsibility of the international community to recognize genocide and put a stop to it, which on numerous occasions they have failed to do. In recent years the United Nations has put forth efforts in Darfur to stop genocide but they may have come too late. In 1994 the United Nations walked out of Rwanda when the mass genocide began only to return after thousands had been exterminated. The United Nations should be held responsible for the declaration of genocide, they should also not hesitate to deem these horrible acts as what they truly are, genocide.
When genocide occurs the individuals, which influence or direct these ethnic directed killings should be held accountable. Hitler was accountable for the genocide of the Holocaust. Currently in Darfur it is recognized that the government of the Sudan is responsible for the genocide occurring there now. It is not hard to distinguish the culprits of genocide. While genocide is the responsibility of the initiator, a heavy responsibility for the crime against humanity should be placed on those whose turn a blind eye to it. The United Nations and other nations which are capable of forming an alliance with one another in times of war are responsible for addressing genocide when it does occur. They are also most certainly responsible for keeping a close eye on countries that may slowly be approaching genocide.
In an article from 2006 from the UK Times stated that Darfur was the worse humanitarian crisis of recent times. The United Nations one year prior to this article adopted a policy called the Responsibility to Protect. This adopted piece of literature leaves the United Nations responsible for preventing genocide and ethnic cleansing. The United Nations and well developed nations are accountable for genocide as well as the countries where the genocide originated.
It may sound simplified, but it is necessary and possible. Genocide can be stopped. It is a crime against humanity and not necessarily a result of war. It is the responsibility of the global community to prevent this horrendous act. The United Nation has adopted policy and defines terms such as genocide and ethnic cleansing appropriately. Action and presence is something the United Nations must adopt and adhere to. Policy does not end genocide; policy in action can end genocide.
The genocide in Darfur has become a popular cause amongst the elite members of the acting and music community. While ending the genocide in Darfur is an admirable plight it often is overrepresented by celebrities. While their efforts are admirable and often leave an impact, people like George Clooney can often influence the American public to sigh and turn away. Often average American’s may feel as though they can not do much of anything to help prevent the occurrences in Darfur, while this is untrue, hearing about a celebrities on a new mission does not motivate an interest. It seems as though a celebrity is just searching for a new way to get their face on magazines.
Here is an interview with George Clooney about Darfur and what he feels is necessary, he even briefly addresses the fact that people do feel a certain way about celebrties and their causes.
