Ethnic cleansing

Ethnic cleansing is a term that has been used to describe various policies of removing people of a certain ethnic group from a territory, with the intent of making a region ethnically homogeneous. This can be achieved through various means, including forced migration, violence, and genocide. Ethnic cleansing is considered a crime against humanity under international law.

History

The term "ethnic cleansing" was first used in the context of the Yugoslav Wars in the 1990s, but the practice has been recorded throughout history. Examples include the Armenian Genocide by the Ottoman Empire during World War I, the Holocaust by Nazi Germany during World War II, and the Rwandan Genocide in 1994.

Methods

Ethnic cleansing can be carried out through various methods, including:

• Forced migration: This involves forcibly displacing people from their homes, often under threat of violence. This can be done through direct physical force, or through indirect methods such as creating conditions that make life unbearable for the targeted group.

• Violence: This can range from individual acts of violence to mass murder and genocide. The goal is to instill fear in the targeted group, forcing them to flee.

• Genocide: This is the most extreme form of ethnic cleansing, involving the systematic extermination of an entire ethnic, racial, or religious group.

International law

Ethnic cleansing is considered a crime against humanity under international law. The United Nations defines ethnic cleansing as "rendering an area ethnically homogeneous by using force or intimidation to remove persons of given groups from the area". The International Criminal Court (ICC) can prosecute individuals accused of crimes against humanity, including ethnic cleansing.

See also

• Genocide
• War crime
• Crimes against humanity
• Forced migration

References

Ethnic cleansing Resources
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