UN legal committee discusses two prospective treaties

At a meeting on 13 October 2026, the UN General Assembly’s Sixth Committee considered two prospective treaties: one on protecting people in disasters and another on crimes against humanity, according to United Nations Meetings Coverage and Press Releases. The account describes discussions towards future conventions, not the adoption of either treaty. [1]

On the disaster treaty, Cameroon’s representative, speaking for the African Group, referred to a General Assembly decision to convene a three-week negotiating conference in 2027. Timor-Leste’s representative, speaking for the Community of Portuguese Language Countries, said it would take place in Bangkok and urged delegations to use the limited time well. [1]

Delegates also set out what they wanted from the negotiations. Saint Kitts and Nevis’s representative, speaking for the Caribbean Community, cautioned against a one-size-fits-all treaty and called for a balance between an affected country’s authority and international cooperation. Brazil’s representative said outside assistance should require the affected country’s consent and must not become a pretext for intervention. Germany’s representative, meanwhile, called for practical provisions on the protection and movement of humanitarian workers. These were negotiating positions, not agreed treaty terms. [1]

In the separate debate on crimes against humanity, Vanuatu’s representative urged countries to address environmental destruction and ecocide. Bangladesh’s representative argued that a convention should focus on preventing such crimes as well as punishing them. [1]