Item 79: United Nations Conference of Plenipotentiaries on Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Humanity
United Nations, 12 October 2026
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Cyprus aligns itself with the statement delivered by the representative of the European Union on behalf of the EU and its Member States and wishes to offer the following additional remarks in its national capacity.
Mr. Chair,
Cyprus welcomes the progress achieved since the General Assembly decided to convene a United Nations Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Humanity.
The first session of the Preparatory Committee, held last January, marked an important further step in this process. Cyprus was pleased to contribute actively to its work, including through the service of a Cypriot representative as Rapporteur of the Preparatory Committee.
Cyprus remains firmly committed to the conclusion and adoption of a legally binding international convention on the prevention and punishment of crimes against humanity.
As we have consistently maintained, the absence of a dedicated global convention on crimes against humanity constitutes a significant gap in the existing international legal framework. While genocide and war crimes are addressed by widely ratified conventions establishing obligations on States to prevent, punish and cooperate, crimes against humanity, despite their gravity, remain without a dedicated treaty framework.
The absence of such a convention is particularly striking given also that crimes against humanity may be committed both in situations of armed conflict and in peacetime. Their impact on victims, societies and international peace and security is no less devastating than that of other core international crimes,
A future Convention would reinforce prevention and punishment, assist States in harmonizing relevant domestic legislation and strengthen inter-State cooperation. It would also contribute to ensuring that perpetrators find no safe haven and to reinforcing deterrence and accountability.
Mr. Chair,
Cyprus continues to attach the highest importance to the work of the International Law Commission on this topic.
We consider the draft articles adopted by the Commission in 2019 to constitute a sound and coherent foundation for the negotiations ahead. They provide a comprehensive framework whose core elements should be preserved and, where appropriate, further strengthened.
Mr. Chair,
Cyprus attaches great importance to ensuring that prevention remains at the heart of the future Convention.
Prevention must remain at the heart of our efforts, as it is fundamental to protecting human dignity.
By strengthening national institutions and reinforcing international cooperation, we provide societies with better capacity for advance action and response, thus building a stronger prevention culture and structure.
Cyprus has consistently stressed the importance of ensuring that the future Convention and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court are mutually reinforcing. The definition of crimes against humanity contained in article 7 of the Rome Statute represents a fundamental achievement in the codification of their definition under international law and the future Convention must preserve the integrity of the Rome Statute framework.
Mr. Chair,
Following the first session of the Preparatory Committee, Cyprus joined other States in submitting proposals for amendments to the draft articles pursuant to General Assembly resolution 79/122. Our engagement reflects the importance we attach, inter alia, to effective prevention and accountability, as well as to the protection of victims and their rights, including appropriate safeguards for children.
Mr. Chair,
Cyprus looks forward to the second session of the Preparatory Committee in April 2027 and stands ready to continue engaging constructively on the compiled text, the rules of procedure and the remaining organizational questions in preparation for the Conference.
At the present session, Cyprus supports the timely completion of the necessary procedural arrangements, including the adoption of the decision concerning the dates of the first session of the Conference in 2028.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.