Johannesburg, South Africa (HRNW): The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) is continuing its international advocacy for a strong Crimes Against Humanity Convention, including through engagement with civil-society organizations and legal experts. The initiative has gained fresh attention in 2026 as governments and NGOs work toward establishing stronger international legal mechanisms for preventing and prosecuting crimes against humanity.
On 5 August 2026, the ICJ hosted a Johannesburg roundtable with the Malala Fund, Lawyers for Human Rights, the Centre for Applied Legal Studies and other civil-society actors, focusing on the development of the proposed treaty and the importance of strengthening international accountability.
The proposed convention would address crimes against humanity as a distinct area of international criminal law and could strengthen cooperation between countries in preventing, investigating and prosecuting such crimes.
The ICJ is a global NGO made up of judges and lawyers from different legal traditions and works to advance the rule of law and realization of human rights. Its current programme includes engagement with governments, courts, civil-society groups and international institutions.
The Johannesburg discussion is part of wider civil-society advocacy encouraging states to adopt strong international standards that can provide victims with better access to justice and reduce impunity for serious international crimes.
The ICJ has also been active on related issues in Latin America, Africa, Central Asia and Europe, including judicial independence, gender-based violence, children’s rights and accountability for serious human-rights violations.
The organization’s work demonstrates the important role NGOs can play in international lawmaking: civil-society groups can provide legal expertise, document victims’ experiences, advocate for stronger treaty provisions and help ensure that accountability mechanisms reflect the needs of affected communities.
The campaign for a Crimes Against Humanity Convention is therefore emerging as a significant global human-rights initiative, particularly for victims seeking justice where domestic legal systems fail to provide effective remedies.
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Disclaimer
This HRNW report is based on publicly available information from the International Commission of Jurists and related civil-society sources. The proposed Crimes Against Humanity Convention remains part of an international legal and diplomatic process, and its eventual provisions and status may change. This report is published for journalistic and informational purposes. HRNW maintains complete editorial independence.
