Unkept Promises: The Unpunished Crime of Genocide

Civilians of many backgrounds, classes and ideologies have fallen victim to the crime of genocide: Jews, Muslims, Christians, Blacks, Whites, rich, poor, educated and illiterate etc. It is a crime that breaks through all barriers; ironically, it itself is not prejudice in who it targets. Transcending time, from the days of the crusaders to modern times we have witnessed this crime that remained nameless for so long. In modern times of international cooperation and the pledge for tolerance of all peoples, genocide still plays an active role. The words “never again” have been used on various occasions: amongst which, after the Holocaust, after Rwanda and after Srebrenica. These words however, have remained hollow promises. The lessons and promises after the Holocaust did not help the people of Cambodia; subsequently their legacy did not help those of Rwanda; as theirs is not helping Darfur and so on.