Eighty years after the Nuremberg Trials laid the foundation for modern international criminal law, there is still no global treaty solely dedicated to the prevention and punishment of crimes against humanity. That may soon change. In November 2024, the United Nations Sixth Committee adopted a resolution advancing negotiations on a draft Crimes Against Humanity Treaty.
This panel will trace the trajectory from the 1945 Nuremberg Charter to today’s treaty initiative. Panelists will explore how the definition of crimes against humanity has evolved to address contemporary challenges, and why a dedicated treaty is urgently needed. Discussion will highlight how such a treaty could strengthen state obligations to prevent and prosecute crimes, enhance protections for victims, and close critical accountability gaps.
At a moment when the world faces both resurgent mass atrocities and shrinking space for justice, this program examines how a new treaty can realize the principles first articulated at Nuremberg—justice, accountability, and the rule of law.
Founded in 1906, the American Society of International Law is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, educational membership organization. Its mission is to foster the study of international law and promote international relations grounded in law and justice. Through events, publications, research, and education, ASIL advances international law scholarship for professionals, policymakers, and the public.
12:00pm EST in Jamestown, Washington DC, and New York // 17:00GMT in London, Leicester, and Cambridge // 18:00 CET in Nürnberg // 11:00am CST in Chicago and Independence
Registration coming soon.
The Robert H. Jackson Center is a non-profit, non-partisan educational organization that is dedicated to presenting accurate and balanced information about complex issues. The opinions expressed by various guest speakers, panelists, and authors do not necessarily reflect the views of the Center, its Board, and supporters.
The Center fulfills its educational mission by welcoming diverse views and by providing a forum to explore a wide range of perspectives on often controversial legal and public policy issues. While we make an effort to ensure the information we provide is accurate and balanced, we welcome your comments, suggestions, or correction of any factual errors.
Since 2001, the Robert H. Jackson Center has preserved the values embodied in the life and works of Robert H. Jackson, who served as U.S. Solicitor General, U.S. Attorney General, U.S. Supreme Court Justice, and Chief U.S. Prosecutor of the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg. Through programs, presentations, exhibits, media, internships, and scholarship, the Center seeks to demonstrate to current and future generations the relevance and applicability of Justice Jackson’s ideas and writings. The Center provides educational content on the United States Constitution and Supreme Court, civil rights, the legacy of the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg and international human rights, and the rule of law. During his illustrious career, Justice Jackson addressed these subjects, and the Center recognizes his thinking remains relevant today.
