Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act 2000

4 (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.

• “genocide”

«génocide»

“genocide” means an act or omission committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in
part, an identifiable group of persons, as such, that, at the time and in the place of
its commission, constitutes genocide 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.

• “war crime”

«crime de guerre»

“war crime” means an act or omission committed during an armed conflict that, at the
time and in the place of its commission, constitutes a war crime according to
customary international law or conventional international law applicable to armed
conflicts, whether or not it constitutes a contravention of the law in force at the time
and in the place of its commission.

Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act 2000

10. Proceedings for an offence alleged to have been committed before the coming into force of this section shall be conducted in accordance with the laws of evidence and procedure in force at the time of the proceedings.

11. In proceedings for an offence under any of sections 4 to, 7, the accused may, subject to sections 12 to 14 and to subsection 607(6) of the, Criminal Code, rely on any justification, excuse or defence available under the laws of Canada or under international law at the time of the alleged offence or at the time of the proceedings .