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Advancing Global Justice: The Campaign for a Crimes Against Humanity Treaty
The inaugural Norman Cousins Lecture was delivered by Professor Leila Nadya Sadat, James Carr Professor of International Criminal Law at Washington University School of Law, Director of the Whitney R. Harris World Law Institute, and an internationally recognized authority on the International Criminal Court.
Professor Sadat’s lecture, Advancing Global Justice: The Campaign for a Crimes Against Humanity Treaty, explored the evolution of the Crimes Against Humanity Initiative, which she founded in 2008, and its influence on the recent adoption of U.N. General Assembly Resolution 79/122 in December 2024. Her presentation offered participants both historical context and forward-looking insight into the long campaign to fill a critical gap in international law.
The discussion covered the critical role of civil society in shaping international law, the decades-long effort to close gaps in the global justice system, and the recent breakthrough at the United Nations that launched formal negotiations toward a new treaty expected to conclude by 2029. Professor Sadat also highlighted why addressing crimes against humanity early, before conflicts escalate, can help stop what she calls an “atrocity cascade,” and how organizations like CGS and engaged citizens can support this global effort. She emphasized how the forthcoming convention on the prevention and punishment of crimes against humanity represents not only a legal milestone but also a moral and political promise to survivors of atrocities worldwide.
The choice of Professor Sadat as the inaugural speaker established the lecture series on a strong foundation of legal scholarship, policy relevance, and civic urgency. Her leadership in shaping international law around crimes against humanity resonated deeply with CGS’s mission to democratize global institutions and advance enforceable world law.
This lecture was also the keynote address of the 2026 CGS Annual Meeting, more info about the meeting can be found here.
