Freedom of Religion in the Genocidal Process and Group Destruction in the Holocaust and Armenian and Cambodian Genocides

Abstract

Human rights are freedoms that are inherent to all persons, which states are obligated to protect. The atrocities of World War Two, in particular the annihilation of Jews in the Holocaust, shocked the global community into the creation of today’s human rights legal system. Traditionally, international law was concerned with the rights and regulations of states. Following the Holocaust however, other actors (including individuals) were included in international law, based on the idea that states should not be free to treat persons within their territory as they wish and, in particular, should not be free to persecute and kill. The sentiment was that people should be respected and accorded rights to be able to live with dignity and liberty, within a broader desire for democratic rule of law.94 Dignity and freedom are the essence of human rights, and are to be enjoyed by all without discrimination as to race, gender, religion,