Lexington Books Twentieth Century Forcible Child Transfers: Probing the Boundaries of the Genocide Convention

The current surge of displaced and trafficked children, child soldiers, and child refugees rekindles the virtually dead letter of the Genocide Convention prohibition on transferring children of one group to another. This book focuses on the gap between genocide as a legal term and genocidal forcible child transfer as a catastrophic experience that disrupts a group's continuity. It probes the Genocide Convention's boundaries and draws attention to the diverse, yet highly similar, patterns of forcible child transfers cases such as colonial genocide in the US, Canada, and Australia, Jewish-Yemeni immigrants in Israel, children of Republican parents during the Spanish Civil War and its aftermath, and Operation Peter Pan in Cuba. The analysis highlights the consequences of the under-inclusive protection granted only to four groups. Ruth Amir argues effectively for the need to add an Amending Protocol to the Genocide Convention to protect from forcible transfer to children of any identifiable group of persons perpetrated with the intent to destroy the group as such. This proposed provision together with Communications and Rapid Inquiry Procedures will highlight the gravity of forcible child transfers and contribute to the prevention and punishment of genocide. Review Even genocide scholars and historians who have fallen into the trap of overintellectualizing and disconnecting emotionally from the tragedy of victims will be drawn by this fine study to feel once again. I remember only too well my anguish as a parent when one of my young children would 'disappear' and not return home when expected. Here, Ruth Amir brings us face-to-face with the infinite tragedy and evils of kidnapping children of a group, the brutal treatment of colonized and enslaved peoples, recruitment of child-soldiers, forced marriages, rape, and impregnation, use of children as sex slaves, and more. One also cannot but be aware of how the subject is so relevant in our times even in what had been not so long ago our bastions of democracy.--Israel W. Charny, author of The Genocide Contagion: How We Commit and Confront Holocaust and Genocide This fascinating book traces the origins of the forcible child transfer, providing the most extensive history of its further development from a widespread practice in different corners of the world to an act punishable under international criminal law. Showing the multifaceted nature of the genocidal forcible child transfer and offering several pillars to substantiate her approach, Amir is effectively arguing to grant a specific protection to children of any identifiable group, making them the fifth protected group under the Genocide Convention. The issue is particularly sensitive and important for us Armenians, as we had lost a lot of children as a result of the forcible child transfer during the Armenian Genocide. This is a must read, must-think and must-act book.--Edita Gzoyan, Senior Researcher at the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute This is a uniquely important book for all those interested in the promotion of human rights in the contemporary world. Amir argues persuasively that children ought to be recognized as a protected group within the framework of international law. By studying empirically children transfers in several countries, this volume goes much beyond theoretical analysis; in fact, it argues convincingly for a significant expansion of the Genocide Convention. This book is a significant contribution to transforming our planet into a more humane place.--Ilan Peleg, Lafayette College A well-researched report about the horror of 'legal' child abduction by the state, which deems itself the savior that will elevate the children of what it deems inferior cultures to it's notion of 'civilized' heights. Slay their children, or rob them of their cultural heritage by removal, the end result is genocide!--Daniel N. Paul, Mi'kmaw Elder About the Author Ruth Amir is senior lecturer at the