On 19 January, Asia Pacific Centre for the Responsibility to Protect joined over 200 organisations as a signatory to the Joint Civil Society Declaration in Advance of the First Preparatory Committee Session for the Crimes against Humanity Treaty, which calls for ensuring the full, meaningful, and safe participation of diverse civil society in the UN Crimes against Humanity Treaty Process.
Unlike war crimes (Geneva Conventions).and genocide (Genocide Convention), which are covered by international treaties, crimes against humanity currently have no global legal framework dedicated to their prevention and prosecution.
The new treaty initiative presents a landmark opportunity to fill this enforcement void. When delegates convene in January, they'll decide how civil society groups can participate in shaping the treaty. Crucially, this includes whether organizations without formal UN credentials—such as survivor networks, academic experts, and grassroots human rights groups with relevant expertise and lived experience—will have a voice.
This decision will shape whether the treaty process reflects diverse perspectives from different regions and issue areas.
Read declaration here
