'National penalties - crimes against humanity' in document 'Canada: CAH and WC Act'

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RELEVANT SECTIONS OF THE IMPLEMENTING LEGISLATION

OFFENCES WITHIN CANADA
Genocide, etc., committed in Canada
4. (1) Every person is guilty of an indictable offence who commits
(a) genocide;
(b) a crime against humanity; or
(c) a war crime.

Conspiracy, attempt, etc.
(1.1) Every person who conspires or attempts to commit, is an accessory after the
fact in relation to, or counsels in relation to, an offence referred to in subsection (1) is
guilty of an indictable offence.
3
Punishment
(2) Every person who commits an offence under subsection (1) or (1.1)
(a) shall be sentenced to imprisonment for life, if an intentional killing forms the
basis of the offence; and
(b) is liable to imprisonment for life, in any other case.

OFFENCES OUTSIDE CANADA
6.
Genocide, etc., committed outside Canada
(1) Every person who, either before or after the coming into force of this section,
commits outside Canada
(a) genocide,
(b) a crime against humanity, or
(c) a war crime,
is guilty of an indictable offence and may be prosecuted for that offence in accordance
with section 8.

Conspiracy, attempt, etc.
(1.1) Every person who conspires or attempts to commit, is an accessory after the
fact in relation to, or counsels in relation to, an offence referred to in subsection (1) is
guilty of an indictable offence.

Punishment
(2) Every person who commits an offence under subsection (1) or (1.1)
(a) shall be sentenced to imprisonment for life, if an intentional killing forms the
basis of the offence; and
(b) is liable to imprisonment for life, in any other case.

OFFENCES WITHIN CANADA

4. Genocide, etc., committed in Canada

(1) Every person is guilty of an indictable offence who commits

(a) genocide;
(b) a crime against humanity; or
(c) a war crime.


4. Conspiracy, attempt, etc.

(1.1) Every person who conspires or attempts to commit, is an accessory after the
fact in relation to, or counsels in relation to, an offence referred to in subsection (1) is
guilty of an indictable offence.


4. Punishment

(2) Every person who commits an offence under subsection (1) or (1.1)
(a) shall be sentenced to imprisonment for life, if an intentional killing forms the
basis of the offence; and
(b) is liable to imprisonment for life, in any other case.

OFFENCES WITHIN CANADA

4. Definitions

(3) The definitions in this subsection apply in this section.

"crime against humanity" « crime contre l'humanité »

"crime against humanity" means murder, extermination, enslavement, deportation,
imprisonment, torture, sexual violence, persecution or any other inhumane act or
omission that is committed against any civilian population or any identifiable group
and that, at the time and in the place of its commission, constitutes a crime against
humanity according to customary international law or conventional international
law or by virtue of its being criminal according to the general principles of law
recognized by the community of nations, whether or not it constitutes a
contravention of the law in force at the time and in the place of its commission.

OFFENCES OUTSIDE CANADA


6. Genocide, etc., committed outside Canada

(1) Every person who, either before or after the coming into force of this section,
commits outside Canada

(a) genocide,
(b) a crime against humanity, or
(c) a war crime,

is guilty of an indictable offence and may be prosecuted for that offence in accordance
with section 8.


6. Conspiracy, attempt, etc.

(1.1) Every person who conspires or attempts to commit, is an accessory after the
fact in relation to, or counsels in relation to, an offence referred to in subsection (1) is
guilty of an indictable offence.


6. Punishment

(2) Every person who commits an offence under subsection (1) or (1.1)

(a) shall be sentenced to imprisonment for life, if an intentional killing forms the
basis of the offence; and
(b) is liable to imprisonment for life, in any other case.

Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act 2000

4. (1) Every person is guilty of an indictable offence who commits
(a) genocide;
(b) a crime against humanity; or
(c) a war crime.

(1.1) Every person who conspires or attempts to commit, is an accessory after the
fact in relation to, or counsels in relation to, an offence referred to in subsection (1) is
guilty of an indictable offence.

(2) Every person who commits an offence under subsection (1) or (1.1)

(a) shall be sentenced to imprisonment for life, if an intentional killing forms the
basis of the offence; and
(b) is liable to imprisonment for life, in any other case.

Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act 2000

6. (1) Every person who, either before or after the coming into force of this section,
commits outside Canada

(a) genocide,
(b) a crime against humanity, or
(c) a war crime,

is guilty of an indictable offence and may be prosecuted for that offence in accordance
with. section 8.

(1.1) Every person who conspires or attempts to commit, is an accessory after the fact in relation to, or counsels in relation to, an offence referred to in subsection (1) is guilty of an indictable offence.

(2) Every person who commits an offence under subsection (1) or (1.1)

(a) shall be sentenced to imprisonment for life, if an intentional killing forms the
basis of the offence; and

(b) is liable to imprisonment for life, in any other case.

ANALYSIS

This provision is wider than the ICC Statute.

 

The CAHWCA 2000 imposes a mandatory life sentence for crimes against humanity that involves intentional killing (such as by murder or extermination). This is not the case with the Rome Statute, which imposes no mandatory sentences. Otherwise, crimes against humanity attract the maximum penalty of life imprisionment, reflecting the provisions of the Rome Statute.