Human Rights Crimes and State Crime Characteristics

Characteristics of Human Rights Crimes

  • Classification:

    • Human rights crimes are both criminal (legally punishable) and deviant (violate societal norms).

  • Typical Victims:

    • Victims are often from minority groups (e.g., Jewish people during the Holocaust).
    • Typical offenders are usually high-ranking individuals.
    • Hate crimes are culturally specific and vary across different societies.

  • Public Awareness:

    • Awareness about human rights crimes is generally high due to their extreme nature and the rapid exposure provided by media broadcasting.

  • Under-reporting:

    • Victims may choose not to report crimes due to fear of retaliation or worsening of their situation.
    • The complexities of the reporting process may also contribute to under-reporting, as victims may feel shame or confusion.

Case Study: Seren's Claim to the European Court of Human Rights

  • Context:

    • Seren was dismissed from work and claimed violation of her rights under Article 14, which protects against discrimination.
    • She argued that her dismissal was unfair, as her employer refused reasonable childcare accommodations despite accommodating another employee.

  • Details of the Case:

    • Seren's request was to start work later twice a week for childcare purposes.
    • She was dismissed immediately after making her request.

State Crime

(a) Definition:

  • A state crime refers to illegal activities perpetrated by state agents, either through action or neglect, which violate human rights or involve complicity in human rights abuses.

(b) Key Characteristics of State Crime:

  • Criminal and Deviant: These crimes are punished by law and violate social norms.
  • Typical Offenders: The criminals are usually high-ranking officials within the state.
  • Victim Demographics: Often, the victims may belong to minority groups that are marginalized.
  • Public Awareness: There is usually high public awareness of state crimes due to their severity and the rapid dissemination of information via media.
  • Under-reporting: Similar to human rights crimes, state crimes can be under-reported due to fear of reprisal or the complexities associated with the crime and reporting processes.