United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Humanity
Preparatory Committee
The General Assembly, in resolution 79/122 of 4 December 2024, decided to convene a Preparatory Committee for the Conference, to meet for two consecutive weeks, from 19 to 30 January 2026, and for four days, in 2027, at United Nations Headquarters in New York.
First session of the Preparatory Committee (19 to 30 January 2026)
The Assembly decided to convene a working group, which shall be governed by the rules of procedure of the General Assembly, to meet for the entire first session of the Preparatory Committee to facilitate consultations on the draft articles, and to enable Governments to prepare formal proposals for amendments to the draft articles for consideration by the United Nations Conference of Plenipotentiaries on Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Humanity to be included in the compiled text, and encouraged Governments to include experts in the relevant fields in their delegations to the working group.
The Preparatory Committee will also decide, at its first session, on the participation of stakeholders other than those referred to in paragraph 16 of resolution 79/122.
Second session of the Preparatory Committee (2027)
The Assembly further invited Governments to submit to the Secretary-General, no later than 30 April 2026, proposals for amendments to the draft articles for inclusion in the compiled text which will serve as the basis for negotiations at the conference, and requested the Secretary-General to submit a proposed compiled text to the Preparatory Committee at its second session.
The Preparatory Committee will also discuss the organization and methods of work of the Conference, including the rules of procedure, on the basis of proposals prepared by the Secretary-General, with a view to making recommendations thereon, at its second session, to the Conference, taking into account the importance of promoting consensus on the final results of the work of the Conference.
The Preparatory Committee will also prepare the compiled text for submission to the Conference, and shall also decide, at its first session, on the participation of stakeholders other than those referred to in paragraph 16, and decides that, upon completion of its mandate, the Preparatory Committee shall report directly to the Conference.
The Assembly further decided that, upon completion of its mandate, the Preparatory Committee shall report directly to the Conference.