India wants terrorist acts in UN crimes against humanity convention
India told the UN General Assembly's Sixth Committee on 12 October 2026 that terrorist acts meeting the requisite threshold should be reflected in a proposed convention on crimes against humanity. Its Permanent Mission said the treaty must give primacy to national jurisdictions and complement, not duplicate, existing mechanisms. A UN conference of plenipotentiaries meets in 2028 and 2029.
Syllabus: Prelims · Current Affairs & IR; GS3 · External Threats to Security; GS2 · Groupings & Agreements
Why this matters for UPSC
GS2, important international institutions and agreements: Prelims can ask about the UN General Assembly's Sixth Committee and the crimes against humanity conference convened by resolution 79/122; Mains, about terrorism, sovereignty and international criminal law.
Why it matters
Survivors of large, organised terror attacks could gain if India's view prevails. The General Assembly wants a legally binding instrument on crimes against humanity, to be negotiated in New York in 2028 and 2029, and India is using the Sixth Committee to shape it early. It wants terrorist acts that meet the requisite threshold recognised within the framework of these crimes, while national courts keep the primary responsibility to investigate and prosecute. It also wants the treaty to complement, not duplicate, existing mechanisms and to rest on broadly accepted principles. How far the final text reflects these views will shape whether India, and States like it, can join the treaty.
Prelims pointers
- Resolution 79/122 (4 December 2024): the UN General Assembly convened the UN Conference of Plenipotentiaries on Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Humanity.
- Venue and timing: UN Headquarters, New York; three consecutive weeks in early 2028 and three in 2029, unless the Preparatory Committee agrees otherwise.
- Aim: to elaborate and conclude a legally binding instrument enjoying the broadest possible support; an additional session may be held if necessary.
- Preparatory Committee: convened by the General Assembly; first session 19-30 January 2026, second 12-15 April 2027 (decision 80/521), both in New York.
- Basis of negotiations: a compiled text of the draft articles and governments' proposed amendments, prepared by the Preparatory Committee.
- Open to all UN Member States and members of the specialized agencies, observers and interested regional intergovernmental organisations.
- Non-governmental organisations in consultative status with ECOSOC take part under Council resolution 1996/31; others may request a place, and the General Assembly decides.
Practise a UPSC-style question
With reference to the proposed convention on the prevention and punishment of crimes against humanity, consider the following statements:
1. The UN General Assembly decided to convene a conference of plenipotentiaries to conclude a legally binding instrument on the subject.
2. The negotiations are to be based on a compiled text prepared by the International Court of Justice.
3. The conference is to meet at United Nations Headquarters in New York.
How many of the above statements are correct?
- (a) Only one
- (b) Only two
- (c) All three
- (d) None
Show the answer
Answer: (b) Only two
1 is correct: by resolution 79/122 (4 December 2024) the General Assembly decided to convene the conference to elaborate and conclude a legally binding instrument. 2 is incorrect: the compiled text of the draft articles and governments' proposed amendments is to be prepared by the Preparatory Committee, not the International Court of Justice. 3 is correct: the resolution places the conference at UN Headquarters in New York.
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