Protection of "Collective Victims" in International Law

• NCJ Number: 126163
• Journal: Human Rights Annual Volume: 2 Dated: (1985) Pages: 239-257
• Author(s): M C Bassiouni
• Date Published: 1985
• Length: 19 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Theoretical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Preliminary Report to the Interregional Preparatory Meeting of Experts, Ottawa, Canada, July 9-13, 1984.

Annotation

This study, concerning the protection of collective victims, was initiated at the behest of several international organizations including the United Nations. Despite the political nature of the conduct leading to collective victimization, researchers should not be deterred from objectively studying this issue which is important to the sphere of human and humanitarian concerns.

Abstract

While some victimized individuals also belong to categories of group victims, collective victimization refers to actions directed at individuals because they belong to an identifiable group. The world community cannot help but be affected by collective victimization which has occurred through three major post-World War II non-international conflicts, inter-group conflicts, apartheid, and victimization of refugees. Other victimization practices that exist in some countries include forced labor, child labor, arbitrary arrest and detention, torture, and persecution. International law protects victims of 22 categories of international crimes including inter alia aggression, war crimes, genocide, piracy, drug offenses, and slavery. International human rights instruments protect a number of areas including life, liberty, physical integrity, and the essential well-being of the person. These two sources of legal norms and standards are supplemented by other modalities of enforcement developed through international agencies including reporting, dissemination of information, receipt of complaints or reports, and inquiries or investigations. Unfortunately, there is a lack of coordination and integrity in enforcement implementation. This article recommends that the United Nations objectively study the area of collective victimization, integrate its activities and efforts with respect to such victims, establish an ad hoc committee of experts to make further recommendations, and expand its cooperation with non-U.N. agencies concerned with the protection of collective victims. 91 notes