On October 29, 2019, the Harris Institute, along with the Permanent Mission of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Republic of Sierra Leone, and the Permanent Mission of Chile to the United Nations, hosted a panel discussion and interactive dialogue on crimes against humanity at the German House in New York City. The event was scheduled to coincide with the U.N. Sixth (Legal) Committee’s debate of the International Law Commission’s Draft Articles on Crimes against Humanity on 28-30 October in New York City. This is a pivotal time for the global effort to establish a crimes against humanity convention and close a historic gap in international criminal law. The side event offered an opportunity for States to learn more about this decades-long effort and for members of civil society to make their voices heard before the Sixth Committee makes its recommendation on the Draft Articles. Dr. Christophe Eick, Director-General for Legal Affairs at the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs, opened the event. Speakers included the Hon. Hans Corell, former Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and the Legal Counsel of the United Nations and a member of the Crimes Against Humanity Initiative Steering Committee, Professor Charles Jalloh and Ki-Gab Park, both members of the U.N. International Law Commission, and Professor Mariana Durney, Director-General for Legal Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Chile. Also in attendance was Professor William Schabas, another member of the Initiative’s Steering Committee. The discussion was led by Professor Leila Sadat. Well over 100 individuals were in attendance.
