We, the undersigned organizations and individuals, represent civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations, victim/survivor associations, and academic institutions from around the world. We have technical expertise on the prevention and punishment of crimes against humanity, including their adjudication before national and international courts and tribunals. Many of us have also directly experienced or witnessed the commission of crimes against humanity. We welcome the opening of the Preparatory Committee for the Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Humanity, a vital step towards closing a long-standing accountability gap in international law.

We commend the inclusion of non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (“ECOSOC”) in the Preparatory Committee and the Conference of Plenipotentiaries as observers under Resolution 79/122. However, we regret the absence of a clear proviso ensuring the equal participation of non-ECOSOC accredited organizations and individuals with relevant experiences and expertise. Their participation is essential to ensure a robust treaty process and final outcome. Broader participation will strengthen the diversity of voices in the room, including survivors and others who are often underrepresented; bolster the transparency and credibility of the treaty-making process; and facilitate a victim and survivor-centric, intersectional, and gender-competent approach to the treaty.

We urge Member States to support the full, meaningful, and safe participation of civil society throughout the preparation and negotiation of the treaty, in accordance with international law and UN practice and guidance. This requires that ECOSOC-accredited organizations be able to participate in a meaningful manner, and that in addition, non-ECOSOC accredited organizations and individuals be able to do so as well, with the same rights of participation. Taking into account the principles of transparency, accessibility, diversity, equitable geographical representation, and gender parity, the possible modalities for all civil society participation should include, at a minimum, oral interventions, individually and jointly, written statements and other documentation made available to all delegates and observers in-person and online, remote participation and streaming options, and intersessional consultations. Further, due effort should be made to ensure and facilitate broad civil society participation by maintaining flexibility in registration deadlines and allocations. These modalities are necessary in light of the obstacles often faced by civil society, including resource constraints, travel restrictions, physical, communication, and other accessibility barriers, and state reprisals.

During the eightieth session of the Sixth Committee, more than 50 Member States noted that civil society had already “enriched the [crimes against humanity treaty] process with invaluable expertise,” including in the very call for a treaty and in “legal analysis, practical recommendations, and innovative ideas for the content and structure of a future convention.”

We respectfully urge Member States to facilitate a transparent, inclusive, and effective procedure for our continued participation, in recognition of our shared commitment to the prevention and punishment of crimes against humanity.

Sincerely,

Organizational Signatories (160)
8AM MEDIA
Abuja Network of NGO
ACPDH Burundi
Action des Chrétiens Activites des Droits de l’Homme à Shabunda (ACADHOSHA)
Action pour la Protection des Droits de l’Enfant (APDE)
ADIFEVEA World
Afghan Women’s Network International (AWNI)
Africa Legal Aid (AFLA)
African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies
African Law Foundation (AFRILAW)
Al-Haq
ALTSEAN-Burma
Aman against Discrimination (AAD)
Amnesty International
Arus Pelangi
ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ASEAN People’s Forum Philippines 2026
Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR)
Asia Justice Coalition
Asia-Pacific Centre for the Responsibility to Protect
Asian Muslim Action Network (AMAN Indonesia)
Asian Resource Foundation (ARF)
Avaaz
Azadi Network
Bangladesh Society of International Law
Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM)
Banu Anvari and Hejran Handicrafts Company
Benghazi Center for Migration and Asylum Consulting and Research
Biladi Human Rights Observatory
Boston University International Human Rights Clinic
Brij Peace Empowerers
Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS)
Center for Gender & Refugee Studies
Center for Human Rights Advocacy
Center for Migrant Advocacy, Philippines
Center for Peace Education and Community Development
Centro de Investigación y Promoción de los Derechos Humanos, CIPRODEH
Civil Centre for Peace, Justice and Development
Clinique de droit international pénal et humanitaire, Université Laval
Coalition for Genocide Response
Coalition for the International Criminal Court
Coalition for the Prevention of Hazara Genocide (CPHG)
Coalition of Somali HRDs (CSHRD)
Collectif des familles de disparus en Algérie / Fédération euroméditerranéenne contre les
disparitions forcées
Comrades of Rohingya Youths (CRY)
Concern for Integrated Development
Conference of Non Governmental Organizations, Nigeria
Congrès Mondial Amazigh / Amazigh World Congress
Congress of Nations and States
Dameer Foundation for Rights and Freedoms
Darfur Network for Human Rights
Development for Peace Education
DITSHWANELO – The Botswana Centre for Human Rights
Divine Foundation for Disabled Persons
Edge Hopebuilders for Youth and Women Initiative
Educational and Health Organization for Afghanistan Woman
Educational and Health Organization for Afghanistan Women
Egbema Clean and Green Initiative
Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR)
Emergent Justice Collective
End Gender Apartheid Campaign
European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR)
Every Woman
Farida Global Organization
Foundation “OPORA in Poland”
Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI)
Foundation for the Promotion of Rights
Foundation Sunflowers
Fundación Internacional Baltasar Garzón –FIBGAR–
Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect
Global Initiative Against Impunity (GIAI)
Global Justice Center
Global Rights Advocacy
Global Survivors Fund
Gulf Centre for Human Rights
Health Awareness and Rural Girls Education Initiative
Hemayat Hope
Her Future Afghanistan
Human Asia
Human Rights Advocacy Centre Ghana
Human Rights Watch
ImPact Coalition on Strengthening International Judicial Institutions
Independent Medico Legal Unit
Initiative Africaine pour le développement durable
Inmaa for Development
Interest of Justice
International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL)
International Bar Association (IBA)
International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute
International Commission of Jurists
International Community for Georgia Development and the Progress
International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)
International Helping for the Young
International Humanitarian Law and Youth Initiative (IHLYI)
International Service for Human Rights (ISHR)
International Truth and Justice Project
Investigator Organization for the Rule of Law
Justice Access Point (JAP)
Justitia Center for the Legal Protection of Human Rights in Algeria
Kalyanamitra
Keen and Care Initiative (KCI)
Kenya Human Rights Commission
KINNAPA Development Programme
Konfederation of Indonesian People’s Movement
LAKAS
Lawyers for Justice in Libya
Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada
League for the Defence of Human Rights in Iran (LDDHI)
Legal Action Worldwide
Legal Watch and Human Rights Initiative
Lembaga Partisipasi Perempuan
MADRE
Mahabad Organization for Human Rights
Malala Fund
Manushya Foundation
Marie-Claire N. Kuja Foundation
Marvelous, Inc.
MBAKITA-Mission of Beneficence Agriculture of Kubango Inclusive Technologies and
Environment
Myanmar Ethnic Rohingya Human Rights Organization in Malaysia (MERHROM)
National Forum for Human Rights
Network Support for Peace Education (NeSPE)
Observatoire des droits de l’homme au Rwanda- ODHR
Organization for Policy Research and Development Studies (DROPS)
Parliamentarians for Global Action
Peace and Justice Network
People for Equality and Relief in Lanka (PEARL)
Perkumpulan Suaka Untuk Perlindungan Hak Pengungsi (SUAKA)
Peterborough Pollinators
Progressive Voice
Protection Approaches
REDRESS
Repro Justice Congo
Rohingya Green Nature Society
Safe Empowered Communities Association
SAHR
Society for Orphaned Armenian Relief
Society for Threatened Peoples
Solidarité des Femmes pour le Développement Intégral (SOFEDI Asbl)
Strategic Litigation Project
Synergy for Justice
Syria Justice and Accountability Center (SJAC)
Tanzania Community Health Information and Support (TaCHIS)
The Common Good Foundation, Inc.
The Congress of Nations and States
The West African Transitional Justice Centre
Transitional Justice Working Group (TJWG)
TRIAL International
Union des Amis Socio Culturels d’Action en Developpement (UNASCAD)
Urban Morgan Institute for Human Rights
Visions for Development and Human Rights
Voices for Change (Mgbakor Development and Relief Initiative)
Water Aid for Afghanistan (WAFA)
Women Child Youth Health and Education Initiative, Nigeria
Women’s Action Network Sri Lanka
Women’s Association for Women and Victims’ Empowerment (WAVE Gambia)
Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom UK (WILPF UK)
World Court of Human Rights Coalition
World Institute on Disability
World Peace Alliance
World Service Authority
Yazda

Individual Signatories (228)
Zafar Ahmad Abdul Ghani, Human Rights For All, Malaysia
Fahim Abrar Abid, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom
Javier Acevedo, Honduras
Alaikah Ahmed, Bangladesh
Nora Ahmetaj, Ukraine
Abimbola Ajileye, Nigeria
Abraham Akilimali, Tanzania
Susan Akram, Boston University School of Law, United States
Mary Akrami, Afghan Women’s Network International (AWNI), United States
Nabila Akter, Fareast International University, Bangladesh
Asmaa Al Ameen, Iraq
Wajahat Ali, Pakistan
Ezéchiel Amani Cirimwami, Vrije Universiteit Brussels, Belgium
Monia Ammar, Tunisia
Libia Arenal Lora, Seville University, Spain
Matabishi Rugereza Armen, ADIFEVEA World, United Kingdom
Benedetta Arrighini, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium
Sareta Ashraph, Trinidad and Tobago
Mahamoud Awaleh, SAB, Somalia
Samuel Azakasi, Prime Peace Foundation, Ghana
Saeed Bagheri, University of Reading, United Kingdom
Seun Bakare, Leiden University, The Netherlands
Markus Baldermann, United States
Tayshena Baltazard, United States
Julie Bardèche, REDRESS, The Netherlands
Najila Bayat, Pakistan
Olympia Bekou, University of Nottingham, United Kingdom
Karima Bennoune, University of Michigan Law School, United States
Tania Bernath, United States
Marilyn Betis, Homenet, Philippines
Tbilisi Bezhanishvili, International Community for Georgia Development and the Progress,
Georgia
Alison Bisset, University of Reading, United Kingdom
Carolyn Blum, UC Berkeley Law School, United States
Nicola Bonucci, Université Paris Cité, France
Reed Brody, UN Group of Human Rights experts on Nicaragua, Hungary
Wanda Brown, United States of America
Todd Buchwald, United States
Ferdinand Buenviaje, Amnesty International Philippines, Philippines
Antonio Bultrini, University of Florence, Italy
Ann Burns, United States
David Buzard, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, United States
Mónica Castillejos-Aragón, UC Berkeley School of Law, United States
Jasna Causevic, Society for Threatened Peoples/Gesellschaft für bedrohte Völker, Germany
Farah Chalisa, United States
Khalid Cherkaoui Semmouni, National Center for Combating Violence and Abuse against
Children, Morocco
Christy Fujio, Synergy for Justice, Netherlands
Sara Ciucci, University of Nottingham, United Kingdom
Ikwuegbu Confidence Robinson, Global Rights, Spaces for Change, Youth and Environmental
Advocacy Centre, TechHerNG etc, Nigeria
Mahamat Dabary, Chad
Tom Dannenbaum, Stanford Law School, United States
Gayle Davies, Australian Greens, Australia
Christian De Vos, CUNY School of Law, United States
Julia Dean, Australia
Sarah Diaz, Immigration & Human Rights Clinic, Loyola University Chicago School of Law,
United States
David Donat Cattin, New York University Center for Global Affairs, United States
Stefano Dongili, Comunity Center Verona, Italy
Pashtana Dorani, LEARN Afghan, United States
Ariel Dulitzky, United States
Kate Duru, Nigeria
Nassera Dutour, Collectif des familles de disparus en Algérie / Federation euroméditerranéenne
contre les disparitions forcées, France
Courage Enudeme, Nigeria
Soraya Fallah, United States
Naheed Farid, Her Future Afghanistan, United States
Stephanie Farrior, United States
Laurel Fletcher, UC Berkeley, United States
Micaela Frulli, University of Florence, Italy
Federico Gaitan Hairabedian, American University Washington College of Law, United States
Hannah Garry, USC Gould School of Law, United States
Genoveva Dimcheva Sotiriova, Bulgaria
Azita Ghanizada, United States
Richard Goldstone, South Africa
Mohammad Farid Hamidi, US
Zaki Hannache, Algeria
Lindsay M. Harris, University of San Francisco School of Law, United States
Mary Hasavari, Norway
Hassan Kadadno, Libya
Jo Hayward-Haines, Peterborough Pollinators, Canada
Sayem Hazim, Afghanistan
Markus Hermawan, Congregation of the Mission Indonesian Province, United States
Luisa Hofmann, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Deena Hurwitz, United States
Stanley Ibe, Nigeria
Mabel Ikoghode Ekido, Girls’ Power Initiative (GPI), Nigeria
Ro Mayyu Isam, Rohingya Genocide Prevention Research Network (RGPRN), Bangladesh
Vinodh Jaichand, Active Citizens Movement, South Africa
Jannet Kaddechi, Tunisia
Wangechi Grace Kahuria, Kenya
Erika Kalantzi, Greece
Naga Kandiah, United Kingdom
Parwiz Kawa, 8AM MEDIA, Afghanistan / Canada
Daniel Keevy, South Africa
Michael Kelly, Creighton University, United States
Quanita Khan, Canada
Lida Kharooti Sayeed, Afghan Women Judges Association, William and Mary Law School,
United States
Khatera Anwary, Afghanistan
Jihyang Kim, Korean Bar Association, South Korea
John Eugen Kinabo, Tanzania
Olga Kotsiuruba, Foundation “OPORA in Poland,” Poland
Dimitrios A. Kourtis, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
Kaja Kowalczewska, Swansea University and KOOS Coalition
Cyprianus Lilik Krismantoro Putro, Laudato Si’ Movement, Indonesia
Hein Htet Kyaw, Atheist Alliance International, Australia
Shubhamanyu Lahiri, India
Maryam Lanko, Nigeria
Priya Lehal, Canada
Listyowati Listyowati, Indonesia
Sally Livingston, Canada
Janet Lord, Center for International and Comparative Law, University of Baltimore, United
States
Erin Lyons, Geneva Academy, United States
Elham Manea, Adjunct Professor, Switzerland
Megan L. Manion, Yale Law School, United States
Craig Martin, Washburn Univ. School of Law, United States
Anja Matwijkiw, Indiana University, United States
Natalia Maystorovich Chulio, University of New South Wales, Australia
John McManus, Portugal
Dr. Abdul Aziz Meslat, George Washington University, United States
Abdul Aziz Meslat, United States
Bonita Meyersfeld, University of the Witwatersrand School of Law, South Africa
Mohamed Aboelazm, Congress of Nations and States, United States
Lieketseng Mohlakoana-Motopi, South Africa
Abubakare Momodu, Abuja Network of NGO, Nigeria
Louis Monin-Tarnier, France
Zahra Motamedi, United States
Nourhan Moustafa, International Humanitarian Law and Youth Initiative, Switzerland
Lahbib Naaimi, Law 4 Palestine, Morocco
Marie-Claire Nabila Kuna, United States
Eva-Maria Nag, Global Policy, United Kingdom
Natia Navrouzov, Yazda, Iraq
Mohammed Ndifuna, Uganda
Gissou Nia, Strategic Litigation Project, United States
Ibrahim Niziplioglu, Germany
Melanie O’Brien, University of Western Australia, Australia
Ewelina Ochab, International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute, United Kingdom
Dr. Ewelina Ochab, Coalition for Genocide Response, United Kingdom
Temilola Odetola, Association of Civil Society Organizations in Ondo State, Nigeria Civil
Society Organizations on SDGs, Nigeria
Henry Off, Canadian Lawyers for International Human Rights, Canada
Raphael Ogundele, Edge Hopebuilders for Youth and Women Initiative, Nigeria
Chinwike Okereke, Nigeria
Bartholomew Okoudo, Conference of Non Governmental Organisations, Nigeria
Oluwaseun Oluwadamilare, Nigeria
Osayomore Lucky Omorogieva, Migration Youth and Children Platform (MYCP), Nigeria
Valerie Oosterveld, Faculty of Law, University of Western Ontario, Canada
Diane Orentlicher, American University Washington College of Law, United States
Jadranka Osrečak
Mahya Ostovar, University of Galway, Ireland
Olfa Ouled, Seine Saint-Denis Bar, France
Iulia Padeanu Mellon, Foley Hoag LLP, United States
Michael Pates, cylindr, United States
Dristirupa Patgiri, Assam University (A Central University), India
Jessica Peake, International and Comparative Law Program, UCLA School of Law, United
States
Itumeleng Phage, Central University of Technology, Free State, South Africa
Linda Pius, Socio Economic Research and Development Centre, Nigeria
Michele Polizzotto, Italy
Emilie Palamy Pradichit, Manushya Foundation, Thailand
Emily Prey, New Lines Institute, United States
Luigi Prosperi, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
Rini Purwandari, Indonesia
Akila Radhakrishnan, End Gender Apartheid Campaign, United States
Francis Rajzman, Brazil
Humaira Rasuli, Human Rights Defender Committee, United States
Alice Riccardi, Roma Tre University, Italy
Francisco Rivera, Santa Clara Law, United States
Kim Rivers, United States
Helena Rodríguez Bronchu Carceller, Switzerland
Nele Rohricht, Human Security Solutions
Stephen Rosenbaum, University of California, Berkeley School of Law, United States
Kirity Roy, India
Christine Ryan, Columbia Law School, United States
Susana SaCouto, American University Washington College of Law, United States
Leila Sadat, Washington University School of Law, United States
Mariam Safi, Organization for Policy Research and Development Studies (DROPS), Canada
Indai Sajor, Women’s Tribunal Feminist Collective, Philippines
Mathieu Sake, USIDRH, United States
Nilofar Sakhi, Andiana Foundation, United States
Khalid Salih, Farida Global Organization, Iraq, Germany
Ellene Sana, Center for Migrant Advocacy, Philippines
Nelson Camilo Sanchez, International Human Rights Clinic, University of Virginia School of
Law, United States
Najiba Sanjar, Sweden
Bibi Zahra Sayar, Afghanistan
William Schabas, Middlesex University London, United Kingdom
Okey Sebamalai, United States
Dalila Seoane, Latin American Network for Gender-based Strategic Litigation (ReLeG),
Argentina
Tebogo Sethibe, Botswana
Joseph Severe, UNASCAD, Haiti
Stoorai Shinwari, Afghanistan
Negin Shiraghaei, Azadi Network, United Kingdom
Rebecca Shoot, Washington Working Group for the International Criminal Court and ImPact
Coalition on Strengthening International Judicial Institutions, United States
Grant Shubin, DIGNITY, Canada
Basak Naz Simsek, Universität Bielefeld, Germany
Shantanu Singh, India
Mohammad Sirat, Afghanistan Women Movement for Justice and Equity, Pakistan
Margaret Slavin, Religious Society of Friends (Canadian Yearly Meeting), Canada
David Sloss, Santa Clara University, United States
Yasmin Sooka, South Africa
Juliet Sorensen, Rule of Law Institute, Loyola University Chicago, USA
Miriam Vesna Specka Bukovac, Mexico, Bosnia & Herzegovina
Megan Steven, Greater Equitable Measures (GEM), Malaysia
Debbie Stothard, ALTSEAN-Burma, Burma
Michael Strauss, Earth Media, United States
Érick Sullivan, Clinique de droit international pénal et humanitaire, Université Laval, Canada
Hannah Sweeney, Foley Hoag LLP, United States
Melinda Taylor, The Netherlands
Cecilia Torres, Illinois Human Rights Commission, United States
Leila Trabelsi, Canada
Angel Trejo Munguía, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
Graziela Trindade da Cruz, Timor-Leste
Anne-Marie Tupuola-Plunkett, United States
Rita Uwasan, Nigeria
Danae van der Straten Ponthoz, Global Survivors Fund, Switzerland
Neelmani Verma, International Criminal Court Bar Association
Margaret Victor, South Africa
Dr. Deepshikha Vijh, Lawyers Committee on Nuclear Policy, United States
Claudio Visco, United States, United Kingdom
Patricia Viseur Sellers, University of Oxford, Belgium
Chrysi Vorloou, Law School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
Yuyun Wahyuningrum, Indonesia
Hadi Wardoyo, Indonesia
Adarsh K. Warman, India
Rizky Wibisono, Indonesia
Karolina Wierczyńska, ILS PAS, Poland
Myra Williamson, Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand
Mengistu Worku, Ethiopia
Muskan Yadav, India
Alyssa Yamamoto, End Gender Apartheid Campaign, United States
Gaisu Yari, Malala Fund, United States
Najet Zammouri, Tunisian Human Rights League, Tunisia
Magda Zenon, Mediterranean Women Mediators Network, Cyprus
Mohamed Al-Harbi, Yemen