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Guidelines for the Conduct of United Nations Inquiries Into Allegations of Massacres

NCJ Number
176853
Date Published
1995
Length
110 pages
Annotation
This booklet provides United Nations guidelines for investigating alleged massacres.
Abstract
Under international law, states are obliged to carry out impartial and exhaustive investigations into all allegations of massacres and other extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary killings, with a view to clarifying the circumstances, identifying those responsible, bringing them to justice, compensating the victims or their families and taking all necessary action to prevent the recurrence of similar acts. The guidelines are part of the broad United Nations effort to strengthen the observance of human rights and international humanitarian law. In addition to the guidelines, this booklet contains five related documents integral to the guidelines: (1) Principles on the Effective Prevention and Investigation of Extralegal, Arbitrary and Summary Executions; (2) Model Protocol for a Legal Investigation of Extralegal, Arbitrary and Summary Executions; (3) Model Autopsy Protocol; (4) Model Protocol for Disinterment and Analysis of Skeletal Remains; and (5) a form developed by the "780 Commission." Notes, appendixes