Global Justice Center Statement during the Plenary of the 2026 Preparatory Committee of the UN Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Humanity

Distinguished Delegates,

With the official start of preparatory work for a Crimes Against Humanity Convention, more than 225 civil society organizations and individuals with deep expertise have come together to issue a declaration appealing to states to adopt a gender-competent and intersectional negotiation process and convention, shaped by victims’ multidimensional experiences.

On behalf of these signatories, first, we call on states to recognize all gender-based harms that meet the crimes-against-humanity threshold. This includes by codifying crimes in the convention, such as forced marriage, reproductive violence, gender apartheid, and the slave trade.

Second, we call on states to center victims and survivors in the effort. Victims' perspectives should shape the text. States should conduct safe consultations with victims and provide procedural accommodations to ensure their meaningful participation throughout the process. The text should also have a definition of victim in line with international standards, and provide for prompt, full, and effective reparations.

Third, we call on states to embed gender-competence throughout. Gender expertise should be incorporated, with full, meaningful civil society participation, and there should be gender parity across delegations. Gender-inclusive language should be used throughout the text, and intersectionality and gender inclusivity should guide all sections of the convention. The term ‘gender’ should be understood in line with current international human rights and criminal law. In addition, there should be a strong non-discrimination and substantive equality clause and robust provisions for monitoring.

This process offers a historic opportunity to ensure an inclusive instrument that strengthens protections against gender-based crimes, particularly for women and girls, and we urge all states to make the most of it.

This statement builds on a joint declaration by over 225 civil society organizations and experts calling for a gender-competent Crimes Against Humanity Convention. Read the full declaration here.