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Genocide, whether committed in time of peace or war, is a crime under international law. States Parties undertake to prevent and punish acts of genocide.

Definition of genocide: any of the following acts committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group:

• killing members of the groups;
• causing serious harm, bodily or mental, to members of the group;
• deliberately inflicting conditions calculated to bring about the group's destruction;
• imposing measures to prevent births within the group;
• forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.

Genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide, incitement to commit genocide, attempts to commit genocide, and complicity in genocide are all punishable acts.

All those committing genocide or the acts listed in Article 3 shall be punished, whether they be constitutionally responsible rulers, public officials, or private individuals.

States Parties undertake to enact legislation necessary to give effect to this Convention and to provide effective penalties for persons guilty of genocide or the other acts outlined in Article 3.

Persons charged with genocide or other acts listed in Article 3 shall be tried by a court in the State where the act was committed or by an international penal tribunal whose jurisdiction has been accepted by the States Parties involved.

Genocide shall not be considered a political crime for the purpose of extradition. States Parties pledge to grant extradition for cases involving genocide.

Any State Party may call on the United Nations to take action for the prevention and suppression of acts of genocide or the other acts listed in Article 3.