Describe the risk factors for atrocity crimes. Differentiate between crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide.
Risk factors for atrocity crimes include socio-economic inequalities, political instability, discrimination and marginalization of certain groups, lack of accountability for human rights violations, and the presence of armed conflict.
Crimes against humanity are acts committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against any civilian population, with knowledge of the attack. This includes acts such as murder, , enforced disappearance, torture, and persecution.
War crimes are acts committed during armed conflict that violate the laws and customs of war. This includes intentionally targeting civilians, using child soldiers, torture, and pillaging.
Genocide is the most severe form of atrocity crime, defined as acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial, or religious group. This includes killing members of the group, causing serious bodily or mental harm, imposing living conditions intended to destroy the group, and preventing births within the group.
Overall, while all three types of crimes involve serious violations of human rights and humanitarian law, genocide is distinguished by its intent to destroy a specific group in whole or in part.