A Contextual and Historical Analysis of the International Law Commission's 2017 Draft Articles for a New Global Treaty on Crimes Against Humanity

Journal of International Criminal Justice, Vol. 16, No. 683, 2018

Washington University in St. Louis Legal Studies Research Paper No. 18-03-032

22 Pages Posted: 24 Mar 2018 Last revised: 14 Sep 2020

See all articles by Leila N. Sadat

Leila N. Sadat

Washington University in St. Louis - School of Law; Yale Law School

Date Written: March 19, 2018

Abstract

In 2017 the International Law Commission adopted 15 Draft Articles, a Draft Preamble, and a Draft Annex on Mutual Legal Assistance, comprising the nucleus of what might someday become a new global treaty on crimes against humanity. This essay examines the history of the ILC Draft and analyzes several of its major provisions in light of the existing corpus of international criminal law as well as the work of the Crimes Against Humanity Initiative that preceded it. The essay concludes that the ILC Draft provides an excellent point of departure for the negotiation of a new treaty on crimes against humanity. It incorporates many elements of the Rome Statute, such as the definition of crimes against humanity, and solidifies the obligations of States to prevent and punish crimes against humanity. It also builds upon modern UN conventions on corruption and transnational organized crime to construct a robust model for interstate cooperation, and has other progressive and positive elements. At the same time, the Commission’s work could be enhanced and the new treaty made more robust by addressing certain deficiencies in the draft, many of which would either reinforce the jus cogens nature of the crime or enhance the preventive regime the Draft seeks to bring into existence.

Keywords: crimes against humanity, Nuremberg, international criminal court, atrocity prevention, international law commission, UN Sixth Committee, general assembly, crimes against humanity initiative

Suggested Citation

Sadat, Leila N., A Contextual and Historical Analysis of the International Law Commission's 2017 Draft Articles for a New Global Treaty on Crimes Against Humanity (March 19, 2018). Journal of International Criminal Justice, Vol. 16, No. 683, 2018, Washington University in St. Louis Legal Studies Research Paper No. 18-03-032, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3144738 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3144738

Leila N. Sadat (Contact Author)

Washington University in St. Louis - School of Law ( email )

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Yale Law School ( email )

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