war crime
Let an agent explain the legal definition and categories of war crimes with attribution, describe how they are investigated and prosecuted, present historical and contemporary cases neutrally from documented sources, and support victims and researchers without providing operational assistance.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify
Researched by: Claude
Purpose and description
Let an agent explain the legal definition and categories of war crimes with attribution, describe how they are investigated and prosecuted, present historical and contemporary cases neutrally from documented sources, and support victims and researchers without providing operational assistance.
A serious violation of the laws and customs of war under international humanitarian law, such as wilful killing of protected persons, torture, perfidy, denial of quarter, starvation of civilians as a method of warfare, attacks on civilians and civilian objects, and forced marches of prisoners, as defined in the Geneva Conventions, their protocols and the Rome Statute; war crimes are prosecuted by national courts and international tribunals and are documented by investigators and historians.
What it is for: Serious violations of the laws of war.
It can be explain legal definitions and categories; describe investigation and prosecution; present cases neutrally from documented sources; support victims and researchers.
Distinguishing features
Legal definition
Armed conflict context
Individual criminal responsibility
International prosecution
What it looks like
Not physical; legal categories and documented acts.
How it is recognised
Serious breach of international humanitarian law
Defined in treaties and statutes
Crimes against humanity and genocide are related but distinct categories
Related models
is a kind of - category
is a kind of - category
is related to - prosecution of war crimes
is related to - another topic under international humanitarian law
In practice
Families and kinds
crimes against protected persons such as prisoners and civilians
prohibited methods such as perfidy, no quarter and starvation
unlawful attacks including terror bombing and razing
crimes involving property and cultural heritage
crimes in non-international conflicts
Standards and regulation
Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocols
Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court
National war crimes legislation
Failure modes and hazards
Partisan or unverified accusations
Agents assisting in committing or concealing crimes
Retraumatising victims
Also called
+18
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.
Law What counts as a war crime.
Definitions.
Definition
Legal definition.
Definition
Definition.
- How are war crimes defined in the Geneva Conventions and the Rome Statute, and which acts such as perfidy, denial of quarter or starvation of civilians are listed? provenance
- How do war crimes differ from crimes against humanity and genocide? definition
Boundaries
Limits.
Boundaries
Limits.
- Is the request seeking to commit, plan or conceal a war crime, which must be declined? boundary
- Which legal or historical information can be provided instead? action
Justice Investigation and prosecution.
Process.
Investigate
Investigation.
Investigate
Investigation.
- How are war crimes investigated and documented by national authorities, international bodies and civil society? provenance
- How can evidence be preserved and reported safely? provenance
Prosecute
Courts and tribunals.
Prosecute
Prosecution.
- How do national courts, the International Criminal Court and ad hoc tribunals prosecute war crimes, and what is command responsibility? provenance
- Which entry fits a specific tribunal? action
Cases Historical and contemporary cases.
Neutrality.
Historical
Historical cases.
Historical
Historical cases.
- What is documented by courts and historians about this historical case, and how are contested judgments attributed? provenance
- Is the presentation neutral and respectful of victims? boundary
Current
Contemporary allegations.
Current
Contemporary.
- What have investigators, courts and reputable organisations documented about alleged war crimes in this conflict, and what remains allegation? provenance
- Are all parties positions attributed without endorsing unverified claims? boundary
Support Victims and education.
Care.
Victims
Support for victims.
Victims
Victims.
- Which organisations support victims and witnesses of war crimes, and how is reparation pursued? provenance
- Is a person in danger or distress now? boundary
Teach
Teaching.
Teach
Teaching.
- How can international humanitarian law and war crimes be taught neutrally? action
- Which misconceptions arise? provenance
What the second pass must settle
- Should each category be a separate entry?
- How should tribunal records be linked?
- How should contested cases be attributed?