The definition of war crimes itself is long, and includes details including types of weaponry that are banned, to the targeting of certain buildings, such as hospitals and those dedicated to religion, education, art, science or charitable purposes.
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It bans actions that cause deliberate suffering, such as torture, as well as “intentionally directing attacks against the civilian population as such or against individual civilians not taking direct part in hostilities”.
Ukraine has accused Russia of war crimes over the bombardment of civilian areas in Kharkiv.
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Today’s Russian attacks on a kindergarten and an orphanage are war crimes and violations of the Rome Statute.
The 1949 Geneva Convention, negotiated after the Second World War, defines the basic rights of wartime prisoners, establishes protections for people who are wounded and for civilians in and around a warzone.
What Is The Minimum Sentence For War Crimes?
Anyone found guilty of a war crime is likely to be sentenced to long-term imprisonment, with 30 years or life behind bars common depending on the severity of the offence.
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