Humanists UK welcomes progress of Genocide Determination Bill

Humanists UK has welcomed the Genocide Determination Bill passing its second reading in the House of Lords today. The Bill, introduced by Lord Alton, would allow UK courts to make an initial legal finding that genocide is taking place overseas, or that there is a serious risk of genocide.

The UK Government has long argued that genocide should be determined by a competent court. However, there is currently no clear route for UK courts to examine evidence and make such a finding about grave international crimes taking place in another country unless UK citizens are involved. The Genocide Determination Bill seeks to close that gap. Humanists UK briefed members of the House of Lords ahead of today’s debate, supporting the work of the Coalition for Genocide Response which has largely coordinated backing for the Bill.

Preventing genocide

The Genocide Convention requires countries, including the UK, to prevent and punish genocide. The duty to prevent genocide begins when a country knows, or should know, that there is a serious risk of it taking place. Countries must then use all reasonable means available to them to try to prevent it.

The Bill would create a formal process for identifying such a risk, which could then enable the UK Government to act.

This could strengthen the UK’s response to grave international crimes that amount to, or risk amounting to, genocide including those committed against the Yazidi people in Iraq and the Hazara people in Afghanistan. It could also support action in Sudan, where serious warnings and evidence of crimes against civilians have not always prompted a timely or comprehensive international response.

Humanists UK has repeatedly called for stronger action, both at home and internationally, to prevent genocide and protect communities at risk. Earlier this year, Humanists UK took part in informal negotiations at the UN Human Rights Council on its resolution on the prevention of genocide. It has also addressed the Council about escalating ethnic violence in Sudan, as well as the persecution of the Rohingya people in Myanmar.

Humanists UK Policy and Campaigns Manager Laura Newlyn commented:

‘The Genocide Convention places clear legal duties on the UK to prevent and punish genocide, and this Bill would help turn these words on a page into a practical mechanism for translating warning signs and evidence into action.

‘For communities facing the gravest international crimes, delay is catastrophic. We urge the UK Government to support this Bill so that would-be genocidaires can be stopped before the genocide takes place rather than being prosecuted after the fact.’