The spelling of "war crime" is derived from the sound of the letters in the English language. The IPA phonetic transcription for "war" is /wɔːr/, which represents the sounds of the "w" and "a" as in "water," along with the "r" sound at the end. The IPA phonetic transcription for "crime" is /kraɪm/, indicating the sounds of "k" as in "cat" followed by "r" and "aɪ" as in "ride," and finally, the "m" sounded at the end. Together they form the word "war crime" used to describe heinous acts committed during war.
A war crime refers to an egregious violation of the laws and customs of warfare, committed during an armed conflict, which is considered a breach of the established standards and principles governing warfare. It entails acts perpetrated against individuals, civilian populations, or property, engaging in acts of violence and cruelty that constitute serious transgressions of humanity and moral decency.
These acts often involve deliberate targeting of non-combatants, including civilians, medical personnel, or prisoners of war, with the intention to cause immense suffering, injury, or death. War crimes encompass a wide array of offenses such as genocide, torture, sexual violence, unlawful killings, forced displacement, and the use of prohibited weapons. They differ from actions deemed permissible in warfare, as they violate the principles of distinction between combatants and civilians, proportionality, and the prohibition against unnecessary suffering.
War crimes can be committed by both state and non-state actors, including military personnel, militia groups, or paramilitary forces. As outlined in international humanitarian law, individuals responsible for war crimes are subject to prosecution and punishment, irrespective of their rank or position, to ensure accountability and deterrence. Courts and tribunals, such as the International Criminal Court and various ad hoc tribunals, have been established to investigate and prosecute those responsible for war crimes, upholding the principles of justice and seeking to prevent impunity for these heinous acts.
The word "war crime" originated in the English language and refers to a specific type of crime committed during times of armed conflict.
The term "war" can be traced back to the Old English word "wyrre" or "werre", which means "hostile strife, contention, or battle". It is also related to the Old High German word "werra", meaning "strife" or "struggle". The word "crime" comes from the Old French term "crimen", which in turn derives from the Latin word "crimen", meaning "charge" or "offense".
The combination of these words - "war" and "crime" - created the term "war crime" specifically to describe illegal acts committed during war or armed conflict.