The Genocide Convention, formally known as the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (1948), defines genocide as acts committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial, or religious group.

These acts include killing, causing serious harm, inflicting destructive conditions, preventing births, and forcibly transferring children. The Convention obligates states to prevent and punish genocide, whether committed in times of peace or war. While it was a landmark in international criminal law, its effectiveness remains debated.

Challenges include proving specific intent, lack of timely international response, political interference, and enforcement limitations, as seen in Rwanda and Bosnia. Although tribunals and the International Criminal Court (ICC) have prosecuted some cases, real-time prevention has often failed, raising questions about the Convention’s practical impact despite its legal significance.