Would you categorize the atrocity crime discussed in the case study you chose as a crime against humanity, a war crime, or genocide? Explain your answer with examples and by applying the definition of the appropriate term or terms. Write a short paragraph to communicate your findings.
Based on the case study I chose (the Rwandan genocide), I would categorize the atrocity crime as genocide. Genocide is defined as the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group. In the Rwandan genocide, Hutu extremists targeted the Tutsi minority group, resulting in the mass slaughter of approximately 800,000 Tutsis. This systematic and deliberate effort to exterminate a specific group based on their ethnicity clearly fits the definition of genocide. Additionally, the United Nations has officially recognized the events in Rwanda as genocide. This classification is important for holding perpetrators accountable and ensuring justice for the victims.
