This event makes a significant contribution to the discussion on the first-ever United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes Against Humanity. The conference is held under the honorary patronage of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Radosław Sikorski.
Date: April 20–21, 2026 Location: Pilecki Institute, ul. Sienna 82, Warsaw Language: Proceedings will be conducted in English. The event will be live-streamed on the Pilecki Institute’s YouTube channel.
- April 20, 2026 https://youtube.com/live/4_f2bCfkQKs?feature=share
- April 21, 2026 https://youtube.com/live/bbuAjdhpVf4?feature=share Participation in the conference (on-site) – by invitation only.
Registration form: https://forms.gle/G92jCjRqtrDBy3M87
Strategic Forum: Bridging the Normative Gap
While treaties regulating genocide and war crimes have underpinned the international legal order for decades, the lack of a dedicated convention on crimes against humanity remains a significant gap in this order. The Warsaw conference is a direct response to this challenge. The timing of the conference gives it significant diplomatic importance. According to the current UN action plan, 2026 is the year reserved for member states to submit official comments. As the forum takes place a few days before the final deadline of April 30, 2026, it represents a potentially crucial platform for shaping international standards.
Expert Knowledge
The conference will be inaugurated by Artur Harazim, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland. His presence underscores the Polish government’s determination to ‘close’ the human rights protection system. Key to the proceedings will be presentations by three distinguished figures:
- Prof. Guénaël Mettraux (Judge of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers) – a distinguished expert in criminal law, who will outline the genesis of the concept of crimes against humanity, creating a legal-historical framework for this debate.
- Ambassador Franz Perrez (Director General of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs) – as the keynote speaker for the final session – will bring unprecedented diplomatic authority to the discussion. His authority in international law will serve as a guide for the panel “Towards the New Convention”, connecting academic theory with the realities of negotiations in New York.
- Paweł Wierdak (Legal Advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland, Director of the Legal and Treaty Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland) – in cooperation with Ambassador Perrez, will present the Polish perspective on the pragmatic challenges of implementing the new Convention within the modern security architecture.
Polish School of Law: From Lemkin to the Present
Poland’s role as host stems from the tragic experiences of the 20th century and confrontation with two totalitarian systems. Continuing the legacy of Rafał Lemkin, the Pilecki Institute builds its identity around his intellectual achievements.
– Our goal is to identify specific characteristics of crimes and precedents that diplomats can use as practical tools during treaty negotiations – emphasizes Dr. Patrycja Grzebyk from the Center for Research on Totalitarianisms at the Pilecki Institute.
