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U.N. Bodies Adopt Decisions in Geneva on Status of Refugees and Crimes Against Humanity

July 27, 1951
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The special United Nations conference meeting here to discuss the status of refugees and displaced persons concluded its 23-day session last night with the completion of a new international convention designed to protect the legal status of refugees. The pact will be opened for signature on Saturday.

The International Law Commission of the United Nations, also meeting here, completed a draft code of “offenses against peace and security of mankind” which will be submitted to the next U.N. General Assembly. The code stipulates that individuals are responsible for crimes committed even when acting under orders or in the course of prosecution of war.

Considered as crimes against humanity under the proposed code are: Acts intended to destroy wholly or partly religious, ethnical, racial or national groups; “inhuman acts” against civilian populations, including persecutions and deportations when such acts are committed in connection with other offenses defined by the code; acts constituting a conspiracy or incitement to do any of the aforementioned things.

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