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Abstract
This article aims to examine the crime of genocide, starting with a brief review on the historical and dogmatic background, the forms of crime and the scope in which the norm seeks to offer certain level of protection. Afterwards, the article analyzes the criminal Code regulation about genocide, comparing it with International Law. Evidently, the national regulation is deficient, incoherent with the rest of the criminal system regarding the severity of the punishment, and inapplicable, especially considering legality and the prohibition of analogical interpretation of the law. Furthermore, the norm faces problems concerning superior responsibility and fault-based liability. When reviewing the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia legal precedents, regarding the Srebrenica genocide, the investigation concludes that the doctrine developed by the Court cannot solve the flaws of the national regulation on genocide. It is true, however, that certain parts of it can be applied with no major issue, such as the Joint Criminal Enterprise doctrine. Nevertheless, only a proper legal reform can solve the issues presented in this article. Even when facing the most gruesome crimes against humanity, the strict observance of the general principles of Criminal Law cannot be overlooked, especially considering that International Law itself has already drawn clear lines on how to prosecute genocide.