Crimes against humanity
Topic: India's External Relations, 1947-1999: Non-alignment, Wars and Nuclear Policy · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
Crimes against humanity are serious acts such as murder, deportation (forcing people out of their land) or persecution (cruel treatment of a group because of who they are). They become crimes against humanity when they are part of a widespread or systematic attack on ordinary civilians. "Widespread" means on a large scale. "Systematic" means organised and planned. Such an attack usually follows a state policy, and the person who commits the act must know it is part of that attack. These crimes can happen in war or in peace. Along with genocide and war crimes, they are one of the three core crimes of international law.
Example
In October 2026, the UN Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory reported to the UN General Assembly. The Commission is chaired by the Indian judge Justice S. Muralidhar. It said Israeli military operations and settler violence in the West Bank were a "coordinated attack" meant to annex land and push Palestinians out. It found that the tests for crimes against humanity were met.
Don't confuse with
- Genocide: this also needs proof of intent to destroy a national, ethnic, racial or religious group, in whole or in part. Crimes against humanity need no such intent. A widespread or systematic attack on civilians is enough.
- War crimes: these are breaches of the rules of war, so they happen only during armed conflict. Crimes against humanity can also be committed in peacetime.