India Advocates for Terrorism to be Classified as a Crime Against Humanity at UN

United Nations, October 13 (Daily Kiran) : In a recent meeting of the United Nations General Assembly’s Sixth Committee, India urged that terrorism be included in a new international treaty addressing crimes against humanity. R. Maithili, a counselor from India’s UN mission, emphasized that the atrocities committed by terrorists should be classified as crimes against humanity if they meet certain criteria.

The Sixth Committee, which focuses on legal matters, discussed strategies for preventing and punishing crimes against humanity in preparation for a conference scheduled for 2028. This conference aims to adopt an international treaty on the subject.

Maithili highlighted the “serious nature” of terrorist activities and their profound impact on individuals and societies. She stressed that the draft articles of the treaty should reflect a comprehensive perspective on these issues, rather than merely integrating existing legal frameworks.

She pointed out that it is the responsibility of countries to ensure justice and accountability for severe human rights violations and large-scale atrocities, in accordance with their national laws. Furthermore, she asserted that the treaty should reinforce the principle that the primary duty of protecting people from crimes against humanity lies with individual states.

Maithili also underscored the need for countries to prioritize jurisdiction while considering the rights of the accused and the interests of victims. She advocated for respecting the sovereignty of nations and their internal affairs when implementing measures to prevent and punish crimes against humanity.

In 2004, the General Assembly called for a conference in 2028 focused on preventing and punishing such crimes. As part of this initiative, two preparatory meetings were scheduled, with the first held in January to negotiate and draft the convention.

According to the United Nations, the goal of this upcoming conference is to adopt a legally binding agreement to prevent and punish crimes against humanity.