International Human Rights & Law Part II

What was the estimated number of people killed by the Nazis during the Holocaust?

Approximately 12 million people, including 6 million European Jews.

What were the Nuremberg Trials?

Military tribunals held after World War II to prosecute Nazi leaders for war crimes.

Who proposed executing all German officers after World War II?

Premier Joseph Stalin of the USSR.

What was the U.S. proposal regarding the prosecution of Nazis at the Nuremberg Trials?

Insistence on judicial process with prosecutors, defense attorneys, and independent judges.

What was the key precedent set by the Command Control Theory?

Military leaders are liable for the actions of their troops.

What was the significance of the year 1474 in relation to war crimes?

It marked the first international war trial.

What new charge was introduced to cover crimes committed by the Nazis against civilians?

Crimes Against Humanity.

Who was the Chief Prosecutor at the Nuremberg Trials?

Judge Robert Jackson of the U.S. Supreme Court.

What types of crimes are categorized as 'War Crimes'?

Crimes committed by the military during war, including killing civilians and POWs.

What was a major limitation of the charge 'Crimes Against Humanity'?

The crimes had to be planned and systematic; a single offense did not qualify.

What defense did Hermann Goering present at the Nuremberg Trials?

Claimed it was a show trial with no jurisdiction and merely victor's justice.

How many Nazi leaders were indicted during the Nuremberg Trials?

22 Nazi leaders were indicted.

What was the verdict of the Nuremberg Trials?

11 were condemned to death, 3 received life sentences, 3 got prison terms, and 3 were found not guilty.

What was considered 'victor's justice' in the context of the Nuremberg Trials?

The idea that the winning side in a conflict can impose justice on the defeated.

What does the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) relate to post-World War II?

It was adopted by the UN as a direct response to the human rights violations committed during the Holocaust.

Who was Rafael Lemkin and what was his contribution to human rights?

He coined the term 'genocide' and campaigned for the UN Convention Against Genocide.

What significant legislation did the UN adopt on December 9, 1948?

The UN Convention Against Genocide.

What was the outcome of the Cambodian Genocide led by Pol Pot?

Nearly 3 million people were killed as Pol Pot attempted to transform Cambodia into an agrarian society.

What event sparked the international prosecution of war crimes in the Balkans?

The ethnic cleansing and genocide during the Balkan War in the early 1990s.

What is the ICTY and what was its mandate?

International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia; it addressed war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.

What problem did the ICTY face initially?

It primarily prosecuted lower-level individuals and had no enforcement powers.

Which notable case developed case law on rape as genocide?

The Akayesu case handled by the ICTR.

What was the unique aspect of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa?

It focused on restorative justice, requiring full disclosure by perpetrators for amnesty.

What was the main role of the NAACP established after the lynchings in the United States?

To advocate for civil rights and combat racial injustice, including lynching.

What incident is referred to as the Waco Horror?

The brutal lynching of Jesse Washington in Waco, Texas, in 1916.

What was the impact of the Emmett Till case on the civil rights movement?

His death became a catalyst that sparked widespread activism for civil rights.

What is the significance of the Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act of 2020?

Makes lynching a federal hate crime in the United States.

What strategy did Bryan Stevenson and the Equal Justice Initiative use in combating racial injustice?

Providing legal representation to those wrongfully convicted or without adequate legal resources.

What historical event did the Gram v. Florida (2010) case involve?

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that children cannot receive life without parole for non-homicide crimes.

What role did Morris Dees play in the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC)?

Co-founder and focused on combating hate groups like the KKK.

What landmark case involved a civil suit against the KKK?

Donald v. United Klans of America.

What was the outcome of the Donald v. United Klans of America case?

The KKK was found liable and had to pay $7 million in damages.

What is the primary function of the International Criminal Court (ICC)?

To prosecute individuals for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.

What principle does the ICC's jurisdiction rely on?

Complementarity; it can only prosecute when national systems are unwilling or unable to do so.

What does 'universal jurisdiction' allow when it comes to prosecuting human rights offenders?

Countries can prosecute human rights violations regardless of where they occurred.

What was the significance of the Pinochet case?

It established that heads of state could be prosecuted for torture and other human rights violations.

How does the UN Convention Against Torture (CAT) function in terms of jurisdiction?

It establishes universal jurisdiction for the prosecution of torturers.

What major accusations have been made against countries like Russia and Israel in recent years regarding war crimes?

Accusations of war crimes and crimes against humanity, particularly during armed conflicts.

What initiative addresses the historical memory of lynchings in the U.S.?

The Lynching Soil Project advocates for community remembrance of lynching victims.

Which notable civil rights figure played a role in the investigation of the Waco Horror and what was their method?

W.E.B. Du Bois used an undercover investigator to document the truth about the lynching.

What major impact did the brutality of lynching have on 20th-century activism?

It mobilized the African American community and allies to form organizations like the NAACP.

What did truth commissions in Latin America aim to achieve?

They aimed to acknowledge past human rights violations and restore historical memory.

How did the Nuremberg Trials influence future international human rights law?

They established precedents for prosecuting individuals for crimes against humanity and war crimes.