Boston College Third World Law Journal Volume 17 Article 1 Issue 2 International Law and Human Rights Edition 5-1-1997 Crimes Against Humanity Matthew Lippman Follow this and additional works at: http://lawdigitalcommons.bc.edu/twlj Part of the International Law Commons, and the Military, War and Peace Commons Recommended Citation Matthew Lippman, Crimes Against Humanity, 17 B.C. Third World L.J. 171 (1997), http://lawdigitalcommons.bc.edu/twlj/vol17/iss2/1 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Law Journals at Digital Commons @ Boston College Law School. It has been accepted for inclusion in Boston College Third World Law Journal by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Boston College Law School. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY MATTHEW LIPPMAN* Crimes against humanity-inhumane acts or persecutions based on racial, religious or political grounds-constituted a revolutionary step in the evolution of international jurisprudence. This principle established that individuals and groups possess international legal per sonality and protection and that those who have drastically denigrated human dignity will be considered criminally culpable. The rights of individuals were thus determined to transcend culture and country borders, and public officials could no longer claim immunity for the mistreatment of those within their own or other States. Crimes against humanity provides a potentially potent principle in combating the current escalation of national conflict and strife. Practice, however, often fails to match potential. The turn towards the next century provides an opportunity to diagram the drafting, devel opment, and the next required step in the evolution of crimes against humanity.