ABSTRACT
During the twentieth century, over 100 million people were murdered by their own governments. That is more deaths than from all wars combined during the course of the twentieth century. Deaths from genocide and political mass murder were only exceeded by deaths from diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, AIDS, and influenza. Genocide is committed by people who have lost sight of people's common humanity. All humans belong to one family. Genocide is committed by people because they become ethnocentric, racist, nationalistic, or religiously intolerant. Genocide is idolatry. An anthropological analysis of lawyers may help us understand why the Genocide Convention has failed to prevent genocide. The Genocide Convention was born toothless, and lawyers have kept it from ever outgrowing its baby teeth. Courts cannot work without police forces. Today, there is no effective international police force. To end genocide, women must be empowered.
