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Genocide Determination Bill: 2nd Reading on 17 July

  • Jul 10
  • 2 min read

On 17 July 2026, the Genocide Determination Bill, Lord Alton's Private Members' Bill (PMB), will have its 2nd reading in the House of Lords. The PMB has cross-party support from distinguished Peers.


Why is the PMB needed?


  • The Government has a long-standing policy on leaving the question of genocide to courts. This position is not enshrined in international or domestic law, but was adopted by the Government some four decades ago and became the mantra repeated again and again. 


  • Despite being the Government's default position for several decades, the Government failed to introduce any legislation that would give effect to the policy. As a result, the Government relies on external competent courts - whether international courts or domestic courts.


  • The Genocide Determination Bill is designed to empower victims/survivors to seek a determination of genocide or the risk thereof - not politicians, not civil servants, not anyone else. It is in line with the victims/survivor centric approach we have been hearing about. 


  • The Genocide Determination Bill aims to establish a formal legal mechanism allowing British domestic courts to make preliminary determinations on whether genocide is occurring or has occurred abroad.


  • Once a determination is made, the Secretary of State will be required to act, for example, by way of referring the situation to the International Criminal Court, the International Court of Justice and other international bodies. This is to implement HMG's duties under the Genocide Convention.


  • Bottom line, if the Government wants to continue to rely on the long-standing policy of leaving the question of genocide to courts, it needs to introduce law to give effect to it. If not, the only option is to change the long-standing policy. Inaction will only empower perpetrators who see that we are unable and unwilling to do anything to address the crime. 


Further resources:


Briefing from Yazda


Briefing from the Coalition for Genocide Response and IBAHRI


 
 
 
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