Genocide Convention (1948)

As of 30 September 2026. Information only, not legal advice – see the disclaimer.

The Genocide Convention defines genocide, confirms that it is a crime under international law whether committed in time of peace or in time of war, and obliges States parties to prevent and punish it. Article III© makes “direct and public incitement to commit genocide” a punishable act in its own right, independent of whether genocide follows. This provision is referred to in debates on the role of mass media, social media platforms and online information operations in the context of mass atrocities. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has jurisdiction over disputes between States parties relating to the interpretation, application or fulfilment of the Convention (Art. IX).

• Art. I – States parties confirm that genocide is a crime under international law which they undertake to prevent and to punish.
• Art. II – Defines genocide as specified acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such.
• Art. III – Lists punishable acts: genocide; conspiracy; © direct and public incitement to commit genocide; attempt; complicity.
• Art. IV – Persons committing any of the acts in Art. III are punishable, whether constitutionally responsible rulers, public officials or private individuals.
• Art. V – States parties undertake to enact the necessary legislation, including effective penalties.
• Art. IX – Disputes between States parties, including those relating to State responsibility for genocide or any of the acts in Art. III, are submitted to the ICJ at the request of any party to the dispute.

Media-based incitement. The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) convicted media executives for direct and public incitement to commit genocide through radio broadcasts (RTLM) and a newspaper in Prosecutor v. Nahimana, Barayagwiza and Ngeze (“Media case”); the Appeals Chamber delivered its judgement on 28 November 2007 (ICTR-99-52-A). The Rome Statute contains a corresponding provision in Art. 25(3)(e) (see rome_statute).

Social media. The Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar, established by the UN Human Rights Council, stated in its September 2018 report (A/HRC/39/64, para. 74) that Facebook “has been a useful instrument for those seeking to spread hate” in Myanmar.

Inter-State proceedings. In Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (The Gambia v. Myanmar), with eleven States intervening, the ICJ held public hearings on the merits from 12 to 29 January 2026. As of 30 September 2026 the Court had not delivered its judgment on the merits (ICJ case page).

ICC Prosecutor. The ICC Office of the Prosecutor's Policy on Cyber-enabled Crimes under the Rome Statute (December 2025) addresses, among other things, incitement to genocide committed or facilitated through digital means (see rome_statute).

• 2025-12-03: ICC Office of the Prosecutor launches its Policy on Cyber-enabled Crimes under the Rome Statute, covering genocide among other crimes (ICC; ASIL).
• 2026-01-12 to 2026-01-29: ICJ merits hearings in The Gambia v. Myanmar (ICJ press release 2026/1).

• rome_statute
• iccpr
• broadcasting_1936
• dsa

• OHCHR, Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, accessed 2026-09-27
• UN Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect, Ratification of the Genocide Convention, accessed 2026-09-27
• ICTR, Nahimana et al. v. The Prosecutor, Summary of Appeal Judgement (28 November 2007), accessed 2026-09-27
• Report of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar, A/HRC/39/64 (2018), accessed 2026-09-27
• ICJ, Application of the Genocide Convention (The Gambia v. Myanmar), case page, accessed 2026-09-30
• ICJ, The Gambia v. Myanmar – conclusion of the public hearings on the merits (29 January 2026), accessed 2026-09-27
• ASIL, ICC OTP Issues First Policy on Cyber-Enabled Crimes, accessed 2026-09-27

• 2026-09-27: Entry created (draft).
• 2026-09-30: Entry reviewed and finalised.