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, recommending an elaboration of a convention by the UN General Assembly 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 adopts resolution 79/122 to advance the draft articles to negotiations along a mandated timeline.
2025
The 6C discusses crimes against humanity in its general debate, sets dates for the 2027 Prep Comm, and continues informal consultations with civil society on the Convention.
19-30 January 2026
The UN’s Preparatory Committee (PrepCom) will convene for two weeks in New York. This session is designed to facilitate consultations on the draft articles and to begin preparing proposals for amendments.
April 30, 2026
Member states are invited to submit formal proposals for amendments to the draft articles. These submissions will feed into the “compiled text” that the Preparatory Committee will use in its second session.
2027
The PrepCom will reconvene in New York for a shorter, focused session. During this meeting, participants will discuss rules of procedure, stakeholder participation (including civil society), and finalize the compiled text for the treaty negotiations.
Early 2028
States and observers will engage in negotiations on the basis of the draft articles and the compiled text of comments and proposed amendments by States over the course of the previous general debates, resumed sessions, and Prep Com sessions.
Early 2029
A second negotiating session is planned to conclude a legally binding instrument on prevention and punishment of crimes against humanity.