Sixth Committee
Agenda item 80: Crimes against humanity
Statement by: H.E. Jeem S. Lippwe
Permanent Representative
New York, 10 October 2024
Chair,
As this is the first time that my delegation is taking the floor during a meeting of the plenary of this Committee, my delegation congratulates you and the rest of your Bureau on your elections to your roles. We pledge to support your important work on behalf of the Committee.
Chair,
The Sixth Committee is to be commended for taking major strides to advance discussions on the draft articles on prevention and punishment of crimes against humanity prepared by the International Law Commission (“ILC”). This marks a welcome change of pace for the Committee. Micronesia has long supported the notion that the General Assembly should proceed with arranging for the elaboration of conventions on the basis of draft articles that are prepared through competent and careful work by the ILC and that address issues of fundamental concern for the international community as a whole. This is a core element of the relationship between the General Assembly and the ILC, one that has suffered from poor use in recent history.
It is the considered view of Micronesia that the time is ripe for the General Assembly to launch formal negotiations for a convention on prevention and punishment of crimes against humanity. Given the depth and breadth of the work of the ILC as well as of the comments provided by States over the last five years in this Committee on the draft articles from the ILC, there is now a rich corpus of views on which a formal treaty-making process can be based.
It is imperative that the international community finally fills the glaring gap in international law pertaining to atrocity crimes. Genocide and war crimes are already subject to robust treaty law. Crimes against humanity present similar offenses to international law and international good governance, and in some senses are the most prevalent form of atrocity crimes today. The prohibition of crimes against humanity is a peremptory norm of general international law. To codify and give concrete effect to this prohibition, the prevention and punishment of crimes against humanity must be addressed through a dedicated and effective convention.
In this connection, Micronesia is co-sponsoring the draft resolution on convening a United Nations Conference of Plenipotentiaries on Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Humanity. We look forward to finally launching a formal negotiation process for elaborating a convention whose time is long overdue.
I thank you.
