History of the Draft Articles
2008
Civil society identifies a gap in the existing international legal framework.
2014 – 2019
The International Law Commission (“ILC”) includes crimes against humanity in its programme of work.
2019
The ILC adopts the Draft Articles on Prevention and Punishment of Crimes Against Humanity together with commentaries, and recommend the Draft Articles to the General Assembly (“GA”) with the particular recommendation of an elaboration of a convention by the GA or by an international conference of plenipotentiaries.
2019 – 2022
The Sixth Committee (“6C”) considers the ILC’s recommendation.
2022
The 6C adopts resolution 77/249 to resume the 6C session in April 2023 and April 2024 to exchange substantive views on all aspects of the draft articles and to consider the ILC’s recommendation.
2024
The 6C will make a decision on the ILC’s recommendation to either elaborate a convention in the GA or hold an international conference of plenipotentiaries.
News & General Commentary
Latest News
- Voice of America | Rights Groups Seek Crimes Against Humanity Treaty | (3/28/2024)
- The Guardian | Nobel peace prize winner joins calls for UN to criminalise gender apartheid (10/7/2023)
- AFP | Hillary Clinton joins call for UN to criminalize gender apartheid (10/5/2023)
- Foreign Policy | How an Unusual Coalition Outfoxed China and Russia at the U.N. (12/23/2022)
- Forbes | A Step Closer Towards A Treaty On Crimes Against Humanity (11/19/2022)
General Commentary & Recommendations
- Mail & Guardian | A chance for Africa to counter the pitfalls of international criminal justice? (4/15/2024)
- Coalition Statement | Joint Statement in Support of Progress toward a Crimes Against Humanity Treaty (3/27/2024)
- CNN | Nobel Peace Prize winner: The time has come to recognize gender apartheid as a crime against humanity (1/25/2024)
- Just Security | Continued Positive Momentum on Crimes Against Humanity Treaty (11/9/2023)
- Opinio Juris | Mapping Asian States’ Position on Crimes Against Humanity Convention Through AALCO Records (7/11/23)
- Just Security | Differences ‘Getting Narrower’ on Proposed Crimes Against Humanity Treaty (5/15/2023)
- Opinio Juris | Closing a Legal Gap on Crimes Against Humanity (4/16/2023)
- Asia Justice Coalition | It’s Time for a Global Convention on Crimes Against Humanity (4/13/2023)
- Amnesty International | General Recommendations to States for a Convention on Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Humanity (3/3/2023)
- Just Security | Coming Debates to Advance New Treaty on Crimes Against Humanity Will Require Skillful Leadership (12/20/2022)
- Just Security | UN Talks on Crimes Against Humanity Treaty Make Progress, But Also Reveal Hurdles (12/5/22)
- Opinio Juris | Draft Convention on Crimes Against Humanity: A Window of Opportunity (11/22/2022)
- Just Security | On Crimes Against Humanity, Protect the UN Sixth Committee’s Integrity With Action (9/22/2022)
- Global Justice Center & Washington University School of Law | Options to Advance the ILC Draft Articles on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes Against Humanity (6/29/2022)
- Coalition Statement | Statement Urging Sixth Committee Action on The International Law Commission’s Draft Articles on Prevention and Punishment of Crimes Against Humanity (11/9/2021)
Legal Briefs & Recommendations
Gender Justice
- Just Security | Signals of Support for Gender Justice in the Draft Treaty on Crimes Against Humanity (1/19/2024)
- Just Security | Draft Crimes Against Humanity Treaty: Toward a Gender Progressive, Survivor-Centric, Intersectional Approach (11/13/2023)
- Coalition Letter | Joint Call to Advance Gender Justice in the Draft Crimes Against Humanity Convention (10/5/2023)
- Global Justice Center | Advancing Gender Justice in the Draft International Crimes Against Humanity Treaty (8/23/2023)
- Just Security | Progress, Resistance, and Silence on Gender Justice in the Draft Crimes Against Humanity Treaty (6/6/2023)
Gender Apartheid
- Just Security | Why the Crimes Against Humanity Treaty Should Codify Gender Apartheid (10/5/2023)
- Legal Brief | Joint Call to Amend the Draft Crimes Against Humanity Convention to Encompass Gender Apartheid (10/5/2023)
Reproductive Violence
- Just Security | Strengthening Reproductive Autonomy in the Draft Crimes Against Humanity Treaty (11/22/2023)
- Brief | Draft Articles on Prevention and Punishment of Crimes Against Humanity Should Advance Justice for Reproductive Autonomy (10/5/2023)
Slave Trade
- Just Security | Time to Enumerate the Slave Trade as a Distinct Provision in the Crimes Against Humanity Treaty (11/15/2023)
- Brief | Including the Slave Trade in the Draft Articles on Prevention and Punishment of Crimes Against Humanity (10/5/2023)
Forced Marriage
- Brief | The Draft Crimes Against Humanity Convention and Forced Marriage (10/5/2023)
Victims & Survivors
- Brief | Draft Crimes Against Humanity Convention Must Center Victims and Survivors (11/21/2023)
Persons With Disabilities
- Just Security | The U.N. Process for a Crimes Against Humanity Treaty Has Finally Started. Will It Account for Persons with Disabilities? (5/26/2023)
Environmental Destruction
- IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law | Proposed addition to Article 2 of the Draft articles on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes Against Humanity (3/30/2024)
UN Recordings & Summaries
April 2024 Session of the Sixth Committee
- 38th meeting (April 1, 10:00am – 1:00pm)
- 39th meeting (April 1, 3:00pm – 6:00pm)
- 40th meeting (April 2, 10:00am – 1:00pm)
- 41st meeting (April 2, 3:00pm – 6:00pm)
- 42nd meeting (April 3, 10:00am – 1:00pm)
- 43rd meeting (April 3, 3:00pm – 6:00pm)
- 44th meeting (April 4, 10:00am – 1:00pm)
- 45th meeting (April 4, 3:00pm – 6:00pm)
- 46th meeting (April 5, 3:30pm – 6:00pm)
- 47th meeting (April 11, 10:00am – 1:00pm)
October 2023 Session of the Sixth Committee
- 9th meeting (October 11, 10:00am – 1:00pm) | Summary
- 10th meeting (October 12, 10:00am – 1:00pm) | Summary
- 11th meeting (October 12, 3:00pm – 6:00pm) | Summary
April 2023 Session of the Sixth Committee
- 37th meeting (April 10, 10:00am – 1:00pm) | Summary
- 38th meeting (April 10, 3:00pm – 6:00pm) | Summary
- 39th meeting (April 11, 10:00am – 1:00pm) | Summary
- 40th meeting (April 11, 3:00pm – 6:00pm) | Summary
- 41st meeting (April 12, 10:00am – 1:00pm) | Summary
- 42nd meeting (April 12, 3:00pm – 6:00pm) | Summary
- 43rd meeting (April 13, 10:00am – 1:00pm) | Summary
- 44th meeting (April 13, 3:00pm – 6:00pm) | Summary
- 45th meeting (April 14, 3:00pm – 6:00pm) | Summary
October-November 2022 Sessions of the Sixth Committee
- 9th meeting (October 10, 10:00am – 1:00pm) | Summary
- 10th meeting (October 10, 3:00pm – 6:00pm) | Summary
- 11th meeting (October 11, 10:00am – 1:00pm) | Summary
- 36th meeting (November 18, 10:00am – 1:00pm) | Summary
Event Recordings & Educational Video
Explained: The Crimes Against Humanity Treaty (4/10/2023)
— Global Justice Center
Crimes Against Humanity Convention at the UNGA Sixth Committee: The Potential and Relevance for Asia (6/12/2023)
— Hosted by Asia Justice Coalition and the International Commission of Jurists
Civil Society Debrief: Draft Treaty on Crimes Against Humanity (4/25/2023)
— Hosted by Global Justice Center, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and Washington University School of Law
Never Again: Forging a Convention for Crimes Against Humanity (2017)
— Crimes Against Humanity Initiative at Washington University School of Law