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War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity

As part of the domestic and international fight against impunity for perpetrators of war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide, the objectives of Canada’s Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Program (War Crimes Program) are to deny safe haven in Canada to persons believed to have committed or been complicit in such crimes, and to seek accountability for their conduct. Delivered jointly by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Department of Justice (Justice Canada), the War Crimes Program takes a holistic approach, which includes three main avenues to seek accountability:

  • criminal investigations and prosecutions
  • various immigration proceedings
  • citizenship revocation

In some cases, the War Crimes Program pursues all three avenues.

Services and information

Definition of core crimes

The Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act (CAHWCA) provides for the investigation and prosecution of three international crimes: war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity.

War Crimes Program

The War Crimes Program supports Canada’s commitment towards international justice and the fight against impunity for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

Process

The War Crimes Program has various legal options at its disposal to address the commission of or complicity in crimes against humanity, war crimes or genocide.

Laws

The following Canadian statutes authorize enforcement action against alleged war criminals or alleged perpetrators of crimes against humanity and genocide.

Reports and publications

The War Crimes Program has made significant headway in ensuring that war criminals are denied impunity and held accountable for their actions.

Report information to the CAHWCP

If you are in the possession of information relating to individuals living in Canada believed to have participated in war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide, we strongly encourage you to submit that information to the Department of Justice or the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) for investigation.