State crimes are committed by governments or government agencies that violate their own laws, international law, or human rights. Acts that harm citizens or citizens of other countries can also be considered state crimes. Determining whether something is a state crime can be difficult, especially in authoritarian governments. State-sponsored terrorism, genocide, and war crimes are easier to detect than environmental and financial crimes. When a government fails to guarantee its citizens basic rights, such as those outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, it is considered a state crime. The definition of a state crime is left to international organizations and norms, and who has the authority to make this decision is a topic of debate.
A state crime is an act committed by a government, i.e. the state or a government agency, that goes against that government’s laws, international law, or human rights as defined by the United Nations (UN) or other codes of conduct recognized. An action can also be considered a state crime if it harms citizens of the country concerned or citizens of another country. Determining whether or not something falls into this category can be difficult because different governments, especially authoritarian governments, have the ability to make laws based on their needs. State-sponsored acts of terrorism, genocide, and war crimes are considered some of the easiest crimes to crack; environmental and financial crimes can be much more difficult to detect.
Every government has its own set of laws that citizens are expected to follow; failing to do so can result in fines, imprisonment and, in some countries, death. Government departments and organizations are set up to make sure that citizens follow these laws. In many cases, however, there is no oversight agency to ensure that the government itself follows its own rules. Otherwise, the act is generally considered a state crime. This type of state crime is usually uncovered by the media or private investigations; in states where it is illegal to simply speak out against the incumbent government, these crimes often go unnoticed. In countries where this is not the case, a government covering up wrongdoing may itself be considered a crime.
When a government breaks international law, the statutes that govern how different countries interact with each other, it is considered a state crime. State-sponsored acts of terrorism and war crimes generally fall into this category. While the United Nations plays a significant role in ensuring these laws are followed, ensuring that every single country in the world does so can be incredibly difficult.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as defined by the United Nations in 1948, contains 30 articles detailing the rights with which every person in the world is born. When a government fails to guarantee its citizens these basic rights, it is considered a state crime. Genocide, defined as the planned killing of a specific ethnic, racial, religious or cultural group, as well as slavery, torture and arbitrary detention are some of the most important crimes committed by a government against its own people. In addition to these human rights, any act committed by a state that harms its citizens or citizens of other countries can be considered a state crime; this can include physical and financial damage, as well as harm to citizens’ health.
As with any crime, what is considered a state crime is often left to the judgment of international organizations and international norms. If a majority of the world community considers a government’s act to be intentionally harmful to its people, it could be classified as a state crime, even if the act does not necessarily go against that government’s laws, international law or human rights . As the world progresses and technology allows for closer communication between countries, the definition of a state crime evolves; deciding who exactly has the authority to make this decision is a source of endless debate and questioning.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
