Published: 01:36 PM, 21 January 2026
Combating crimes against humanity must follow UN Charter: China
Combating crimes against humanity must comply with the UN Charter and universally recognized principles and rules of international law, a Chinese envoy said on Monday. Sun Lei, charge d'affaires of the Chinese Permanent Mission to the United Nations, made the remarks at the First Session of the Preparatory Committee for the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes Against Humanity, reports CGTN.
The UN Conference, scheduled for 2028 and 2029, is tasked with drafting a convention on the prevention and punishment of crimes against humanity.
In recent years, crimes against humanity have been subjected to repeated political manipulation, said Sun. Under the guise of combating crimes and protecting human rights, certain states have engaged in interference in other countries' internal affairs and armed aggression, gravely violating the spirit of international rule of law, he explained.
"We recommend that the draft articles further emphasize respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, the prohibition of the use or threat of force, non-interference in internal affairs, and other principles of international law," he said. "They should also reflect the rules of customary international law, such as respect for the judicial immunity of state officials."
Sun said the definition of crimes against humanity is one of the core issues concerning the convention, and should not be simply transposed from the Rome Statute.
Over one-third of UN members are not parties to the Rome Statute, meaning that its definition does not represent a universal consensus. Furthermore, definitions of crimes against humanity vary across other international treaties and instruments.
The definition for the new convention should be established on the basis of a thorough examination of state practice, broadly consolidating consensus among all parties, said Sun.
International cooperation in combating crimes against humanity should respect the circumstances and differences in the legal systems of countries. Flexibility and inclusiveness should be demonstrated on contentious issues. The national legal system and discretionary powers should be fully respected, he said.
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