Page:Genocide Act 1969.pdf/1

ELIZABETH II

1969 CHAPTER 12

An Act to give effect to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.[27th March 1969]

Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

Genocide. 1.—(1) A person commits an offence of genocide if he commits any act falling within the definition of “genocide” in Article II of the Genocide Convention as set out in the Schedule to this Act.

(2) A person guilty of an offence of genocide shall on conviction on indictment—

(a) if the offence consists of the killing of any person, be sentenced to imprisonment for life;

(b) in any other case, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding fourteen years.

(3) Proceedings for an offence of genocide shall not be instituted in England or Wales except by or with the consent of the Attorney General and shall not be instituted in Northern Ireland except by or with the consent of the Attorney General for Northern Ireland.

(4) In Schedule 1 to the 1967 c. 58.Criminal Law Act 1967 the following paragraph shall be added at the end of List B (offences outside the jurisdiction of quarter sessions):—

“20. Offences of genocide and any attempt, conspiracy or incitement to commit such an offence.”