Présentation - UN Convention Statutory Limitations 1968

i n t r o d u c t i o n

Convention on the Non-Applicability of Statutory Limitations to War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity, 26 November 1968.

Forum of adoption

United Nations General Assembly

In force

yes

Entry into force

11.11.1970

The present Convention was occasioned by the fear, which grew in the mid-1960's, that German war criminals of World War II, who had not yet been apprehended, might escape prosecution because of the expiration of the periods of limitation applicable to their crimes. The Convention was prepared by the Human Rights Commission and thereafter adopted and opened for signature by the General Assembly of the United Nations. It will be noted that the definition of "crimes against humanity" was broadened compared with the definition contained in the Charter of the Nüremberg Tribunal.

Meetings of forum

24.10.1968 - 21.12.1968, New York

Dade of adoption

26.11.1968

Depositary

UNO

Number of articles

Authentic text

English; Chinese; Spanish; French; Russian

Source

D.Schindler and J.Toman, The Laws of Armed Conflicts, Martinus Nihjoff Publisher, 1988, pp.925-928.

Keywords

IMPRESCRIPTIBILITY; WAR CRIME; CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY; GENOCIDE; APARTHEID; PEACE; BREACH; INTERNATIONAL ARMED CONFLICT; NON-INTERNATIONAL ARMED CONFLICT; UNITED NATIONS; MILITARY TRIBUNAL OF NUREMBERG; HUMAN RIGHTS