New York, 14 October 2025

Mr. Chair,

Since this is my first intervention in this Committee during the current session of the General Assembly, allow me to congratulate you and the other members of the Bureau on your election.

Over the past century, the international community has made significant progress in tackling the most heinous atrocities in human history. Yet offenses against the sanctity of human life persist, inflicting unspeakable suffering on countless people. Children, women, ethnic and religious minorities, including millions of Christians, continue to face persecution, torture and death.

Mr. Chair,

As the international community commemorates eight decades of a rules-based order dedicated to peace and justice, the Holy See has often affirmed that peace is not merely the absence of war, but rather the fruit of relationships grounded in truth, justice, charity, and freedom. Justice requires respect for international law, equality among nations, and solidarity through development and human rights. Crimes against humanity assault human dignity and sever the bonds of fraternity, striking at the very foundations of this order.

The Holy See has long called for renewed efforts to strengthen the international legal framework for the prevention and punishment of crimes against humanity. As Pope Pius XII affirmed as early as 1953, “Peaceful and orderly social life, in the national community or in that of the nations, is possible only if we observe the legal norms that govern the coexistence and work together of the members of society. But there are always people who do not adhere to these norms and who violate the law. Society must protect itself against them. (…) Protecting individuals and peoples from injustice and violations of the law through the development of international criminal law constitutes indeed a lofty goal.”[1]

Mr. Chair,

The Holy See welcomes the ongoing work on the Draft Articles on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Humanity, recognizing their potential to become a vital instrument of international law. It is therefore essential that the upcoming sessions of the Preparatory Committee and the future diplomatic conference remain transparent and inclusive. The Draft Articles, far from constituting a finished text, provide a foundation that still needs to be refined through dialogue and cooperation, with continued discussion on unresolved issues — including the interpretation of fundamental concepts for international cooperation — being essential to establish a coherent, effective and lasting framework capable of preventing and addressing crimes against humanity.

Although open and inclusive debate is necessary, negotiations must remain focused and constructive to ensure that attention remains on the core objective of adopting an effective and universally accepted convention. Focusing more on existing customary international law than on progressive development can help to ensure that the discussions remain effective. In that context, it should be noted that Article 7 of the Rome Statute, which contains the definitions of the various crimes against humanity, reflects customary international law — a fact that should be recognized by all States, including those not party to the Statute. However, adding to or modifying these definitions before State practice and opinio iuris have fully developed, would not only hinder consensus, but would also undermine the effectiveness of the new instrument.

In this context, the Holy See supports maintaining the customary understanding of gender, as reflected in Article 7(3) of the Rome Statute, which refers to the two sexes, male and female. This language does not exclude any person or group from protection; rather, it affirms that every human being, regardless of status or characteristic, must be safeguarded from persecution and violence. Upholding this inclusive and principled approach will ensure that the convention fully respects human dignity and strengthens the collective resolve to prevent and punish crimes against humanity.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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[1]     Pope Pius XII, Address to the participants in the VI Congress on International Criminal Law, 3 October 1953.