Human Rights and Atrocities

Atrocity crimes are often also referred to as mass human rights violations. Indeed, atrocity crimes are human rights violations, although analysis of the conduct involved under both labels is rare. Behavior that is categorized as atrocity crimes (war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity) overlaps with that which is categorized as human rights violations. This chapter examines the relationship between human rights and atrocity crimes, considering human rights as means of prevention of atrocities, the relationship of each category of atrocity crime with human rights, and the importance of the human rights law regime in times of atrocity. Overall, there is a need for more engagement with the human rights regime in the mass atrocity contexts, from prevention through to accountability.