Apartheid

The International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid defines “the crime of apartheid” as “inhuman acts committed for the purpose of establishing and maintaining domination by one racial group of persons over any other racial group of persons and systematically oppressing them” (Art. 2 of Apartheid Convention). This Convention was adopted on 30 November 1973 by the General Assembly of the UN, entered into force in 1976, and today binds 109 States Parties.

Individuals, members of organizations, and representatives of the State, regardless of their motives and their country of residence, are held criminally responsible under international law, if they:

• commit, participate in, directly incite, or conspire in the commission of acts of apartheid;
• directly abet, cooperate with, or encourage the commission of the crime of apartheid.

The practice of apartheid and any other inhuman and degrading practices based on racial discrimination and involving outrages on personal dignity are considered war crimes if they are committed during an international armed conflict (API Art. 85.4). Apartheid is also considered a crime against humanity, as set forth in the Statute of the International Criminal Court, which was adopted in July 1998 and entered into force on 1 July 2002.