It gave effect to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide approved by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 9 December 1948.

As to application of this Act to the British Antarctic Territory, see section 5(1)(b) of the Administration of Justice Ordinance 1990 (No 5).

[8] Archbold Criminal Pleading, Evidence and Practice said that this Act made no provision in relation to jurisdiction and that it was "doubtful" that genocide committed by a British subject abroad was an offence under this Act.

Section 1(4) inserted paragraph 20 of List B of Schedule 1 to the Criminal Law Act 1967.

Section 1(5) was repealed by Part 1 of Schedule 7 to the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978.