First preparatory Committee meeting: 19 to 30 January 2026
From 19 to 30 January 2026, States convened the first of two Preparatory Committee (PrepCom) meetings to discuss proposed amendments to the International Law Commission’s Draft Articles on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes Against Humanity (Draft Articles) to submit to the UN Secretary General for inclusion in the compilation for the Conference of Plenipotentiaries by the 30 April 2026 deadline set by the UNGA. The ICJ participated in the PrepCom, making an oral statement and holding a side event on the establishment of a treaty body for the Convention.
In its oral statement on 19 January 2026 at the PrepCom, the ICJ welcomed the opportunity to participate in the process and called on States to adopt progressive amendments to the International Law Commission’s Draft Articles on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes Against Humanity that take into account the development of international law since enactment of the Rome Statute for the International Criminal Court and ensure full access to the right to remedies and reparation. The ICJ also called on States to ensure full and effective civil society participation in the negotiation process.
At its side event on 27 April 2026, co-hosted by the Permanent Mission of Mexico to the United Nations in New York and the Permanent Mission of Timor-Leste to the United Nations in New York, the ICJ and co-sponsors facilitated a discussion on the creation of a treaty body for the convention.
On the margins of the PrepCom, the ICJ also supported a reception hosted by the Coalition for the Crimes Against Humanity Convention for UN Member States and civil society to provide any opportunity to gather informally.
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