The Prevention and Intervention of Genocide During the Cold War Years

The United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (UNCG) was followed by a host of other human rights initiatives that were also designed to facilitate states intervening in human rights violations. Article 1 of the UNGC also asserts that, “The Contracting Parties confirm that genocide, whether committed in time of peace or in time of war, is a crime under international law which they undertake to prevent and punish.” Time and again, during the Cold War, the United States, chose not to intervene in genocidal crimes because of the potential implications of that intervention. The future of genocide intervention and prevention is ultimately dependent upon the ability of states and international organizations to define humanitarian concerns as being central to national self interest and security. The chapter discusses the examples that are a selective representation of numerous genocide and human rights abuses that were perpetrated unhindered during the Cold War period.