What's in a Name? Reflections on Using, Not Using, and Overusing the “G-Word”

Introduction

“…In academia, Sche er's proposal attracted support (e.g., Schabas, 2007;Bazyler, 2007;Mennecke, 2007;Karstedt, 2013) as well as criticism (e.g., Akhavan, 2007;Levene, 2007, Minow, 2007. In practice, the term has been widely adopted by the United Nations, which in 2014 published its "Framework for Analysis of Atrocity Crimes."…”

The Merits of Unifying Terms: "Atrocity Crimes" and "Atrocity Law"

“…I could easily have abandoned ''genocide'' and ''precursors of genocide,'' as Martin Mennecke would prefer, and simplify the exercise by the application of ''atrocity crimes.'' 3 While I appreciate Mennecke's confidence in the latter term, I believe he is mistaken in his dismissal of ''precursors of genocide.'' In reality, there is still a need to communicate to the public, and to policy makers, about, and in the language of, genocide.…”

The Scope for and the Significance and Desirability of the Use of the Term ‘Genocide’ by Politicians: Joint Advisory Report by the Netherlands Advisory Committee on Issues of Public International Law and the External Advisor on Public International Law (March 2017)

“…Unilateral use of these terms may render the state concerned part of a 'hegemonic Western discourse', which is not necessarily the most effective approach politically speaking. Using these terms is tantamount to an accusation against a foreign government and can prove counterproductive, for example when prevention measures necessitate obtaining that government's consent to the deployment of UN peacekeepers 47 or even an international fact-finding commission. In this respect, too, reference is made to the remarks in section 3 on the preference for international determinations.…”