The prevention of genocide as a Jus Cogens norm? : a formula for lawful humanitarian intervention

At the heart of this chapter lies the desire to seek a greater understanding of, and to develop, the meaning of the following words of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (1948) (‘Genocide Convention’): The Contracting Parties confirm that genocide, whether committed in time of peace or in time of war, is a crime under international law which they undertake to prevent and punish. […] Any Contracting Party may call upon the competent organs of the United Nations to take such action under the Charter of the United Nations as they consider appropriate for the prevention and suppression of acts of genocide or any of the other acts enumerated in Article III. While many trees have been felled in the efforts to explore the prohibition on the commission of genocide, less academic time and energy has been invested into the prevention of genocide as such