Rights Groups Seek Crimes Against Humanity Treaty

Three hundred and five human rights organizations and individuals have signed a petition calling for a global convention on crimes against humanity. They want the countries to use this year’s 79th Session of the UN General Assembly to move the draft Articles on Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Humanity forward. Elise Keppler, Executive Director of the Global Justice Center which works to advance gender equality using international law, tells VOA’s James Butty, a treaty on crimes against humanity would close the gap that exists in the current international framework on mass atrocities as well as clarifying the duties of states to prevent such crimes.