New York:The Republic of Cyprus has reiterated its commitment to the establishment of a legally binding international convention focused on the prevention and punishment of crimes against humanity. This statement was made during Cyprus' address to the Sixth Committee of the UN General Assembly at its 81st session.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Cyprus aligned its position with the European Union and its Member States, expressing approval of the General Assembly's decision to hold a United Nations Conference of Plenipotentiaries on this matter. Ambassador Maria Michael, Cyprus' Permanent Representative to the UN, underscored Cyprus' engagement in the initial session of the Preparatory Committee held in January.
The absence of a specific global convention addressing crimes against humanity remains a significant gap in international law, as highlighted by Ambassador Michael. While existing conventions cover genocide and war crimes, crimes against humanity lack a dedicated treaty framework, despite occurring in both wartime and peacetime contexts.
Cyprus believes that a future convention would enhance prevention and punishment measures, foster inter-state cooperation, align domestic laws, and promote accountability. Ambassador Michael pointed out that the draft articles from the International Law Commission in 2019 provide a robust basis for future negotiations.
Emphasizing prevention's crucial role in safeguarding human dignity, Cyprus also highlighted the necessity for the future convention to complement the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. It stressed the importance of maintaining the integrity of the Rome Statute while proposing amendments to the draft articles to ensure effective prevention, accountability, and victim protection, particularly safeguarding children's rights.
Additionally, Cyprus expressed its willingness to participate constructively in the upcoming second session of the Preparatory Committee in April 2027 and supported the timely organization of the first session of the Conference in 2028.