Mourant

IBA Annual Conference Toronto 2025

2 Nov - 7 Nov 2025

Session information

Crimes against humanity: the idea whose time has come

Wednesday 5 November (1115 - 1230)

Committee(s)

Bar Issues Commission (Lead)
IBA Legal Policy & Research Unit
IBA's Human Rights Institute

Description

The 6th Committee of The United Nations in late 2024 released the draft treaty relating to crimes against humanity. The proposed draft fills a gap in international law where certain crimes have not been covered because they were limited to certain contexts, such a crime committed during war. As a stand-alone treaty, it would aggregate in one place defined crimes, including murder, torture, slavery, rape and sexual violence, targeted persecutions of particular groups, enforced disappearance and apartheid. In the case of apartheid, there is a movement to broaden the definition beyond race to include gender. The convention would obligate national governments to ensure investigation and prosecution, including even of their own acts. The negotiation process will provide an opportunity for national bars around the world to engage with their governments to advocate positions on the details, scope and remedies. The International Bar Association's Bar Issues Commission has made this a priority for the next two years. The program will be of interest to all attorneys and bars, as the convention addresses the most fundamental of human rights issues that all bars are concerned with.