Unlawful deportation and transfer is the act of forcibly removing a person from their home during war. This act is a war crime punishable by the International Criminal Court. The elements of unlawful deportation and transfer are:
- The perpetrator moved the victim(s) to another State or to another location;
- The victims were protected under the Geneva Conventions of 1949;
- The perpetrator knew of the victim’s protected status;
- The conduct took place in the context of an international armed conflict; and
- The perpetrator knew of the international armed conflict.
Please visit the ICC’s Elements of Crimes for more information.
[Last updated in June of 2024 by the Wex Definitions Team]