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ETHNIC CLEANSING

Ethnic cleansing is the systematic forced removal of ethnic or religious groups from
a given territory by a more powerful ethnic group, often with the intent of making it
ethnically homogeneous. The forces applied may be various forms of forced
migration (deportation, population transfer), intimidation, as well as mass murder
and genocidal rape.

Ethnic cleansing is usually accompanied with efforts to remove physical and


cultural evidence of the targeted group in the territory through the destruction of
homes, social centers, farms, and infrastructure, and by the desecration of
monuments, cemeteries, and places of worship.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GENOCIDE AND ETHNIC CLEANSING

The main difference between the concepts of ethnic cleansing and genocide lies in
their definition. Ethnic cleansing entails the forced and permanent “removal” of one
ethnic or religious group – by another group – from a geographic area and the
subsequent occupation of that same area by the perpetrator group

even if it is defined and regulated by the


1948 Genocide Convention, genocide is
hard to identify and halt while it is
ongoing. In fact, as committing a
Contextualization genocide has serious legal
consequences, the international
community tends to classify mass-scale
deportations and killings as ethnic
cleansing.
Scope and magnitude while genocide entails the killing of
thousands of persons, an ethnic
cleansing may be carried out even
without having a particularly high death
toll. However, genocide may be one of
the ways in which an ethnic cleansing is
implemented
Intent the aim of genocide is the destruction
(partial or total) of the targeted group
whereas the goal of ethnic cleansing is
the displacement of the targeted group
from a specific territory.
Similarities between Ethnic Cleansing and Genocide
Despite the legal differences and the problems of definition, the concepts of ethnic
cleansing and genocide may appear interchangeable. In fact, there are various
similarities that cannot be overlooked:
 In both cases, minority groups (including ethnic, religious, or social groups)
are targeted by a majority
 In both cases, minority groups may be subjected to a series of gross human
rights violations, including arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance,
forced displacement, torture, rape, summary executions, and indiscriminate
attacks;
 In both cases, the majority group may end up eliminating or destroying the
minority group – even though that may not have been the original intention;
 In both cases, the ethnic, social and cultural balance of a given area may be
completely overturn;
 In both cases, it is the group as a whole to be targeted, not the individual
members;
 In both cases, perpetrator may be accountable for war crimes and crimes
against humanity;
 In both cases, the number of casualties is likely to be very high;
 In both cases, the international community has the right and duty to
intervene and condemn perpetrators as well as to act to ensure the safety of
targeted groups; and
 In both cases, international reparation and reconstruction mechanisms
should be set up to ensure justice and accountability for the victims and their
relatives.
Although the two terms are legally and technically different – and although ethnic
cleansing does not constitute a specific crime under international law –, genocide
and ethnic cleansing may unfold in very similar ways and may have similar
consequences.

The Rise of Ethnic Cleansing in the 20th Century

The 20th century saw a rise in extreme nationalist movements, which was
exhibited in an extraordinary level of brutality motivated by ethnic cleansing.
Examples of ethnic cleansing movements in the 20th century include:
 Turkish Massacre of Armenians during WWI
 Nazi Holocaust during WWI
 Genocide in Bosnia during the 1990s
 Forced displacement and mass killings in Rwanda during the 1990s

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