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War Crimes and the RCMP: Changing Investigations and Future Challenges for the Force

NCJ Number
186449
Journal
Gazette Volume: 62 Issue: 2 Dated: 2000 Pages: 30-33
Author(s)
J. Paul Richards
Date Published
2000
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article examines the involvement of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in the investigation of war crimes.
Abstract
Members of the RCMP War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity Unit investigate allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity worldwide, and other criminal offenses with international jurisdiction for Canadian law. War crimes can be interpreted as crimes occurring within the context of violations of the Geneva Convention against prisoners of war, while crimes against humanity are those offenses of a genocidal nature against a general population. “War crime” and “war criminal” have become generic terms to denote investigation of all such criminal activity. The article discusses Canadian involvement in cases of alleged war criminals who entered Canada through fraudulent means by concealing their past, in cases developed as a result of Canadian participation in peacekeeping operations in several countries, and in unresolved cases pending since World War II.