Ministry Statements & Speeches:
Thank you Chair.
New Zealand wishes to focus its comments on draft article 6 addressing criminalization under national law.
We consider draft article 6 to be central to the effectiveness of a future convention. By establishing a harmonized minimum standard framework for criminalization under national law, draft article 6 will help address the risk of impunity with respect to crimes against humanity. This approach will mitigate potential loopholes that may result from diverging definitions under States’ national laws.
New Zealand welcomes the approach taken by the ILC in draft article 6(3) to address the different modes of criminal responsibility for crimes against humanity, while maintaining flexibility for the operation of national laws in the context of different legal systems. We consider that this approach will facilitate effective domestic implementation.
New Zealand supports the clarification at draft article 6(6) that crimes against humanity shall not be subject to any statute of limitations.
Thank you Chair.