The conference “The Roots of Crimes against Humanity: Bridging the Normative Gap” places Warsaw at the center of global human rights diplomacy - Instytut Pileckiego

As global efforts to codify a groundbreaking legal act intensify, Warsaw is becoming a center of legal discourse. The international conference “The Roots of Crimes against Humanity: Bridging the Normative Gap" will be held on April 20–21, 2026. This event represents 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

Venue: Pilecki Institute, 82 Sienna Street, Warsaw

Language: The proceedings will be conducted in English.

The event will be broadcast live on the Pilecki Institute’s YouTube channel.

April 20: https://youtube.com/live/4_f2bCfkQKs?feature=share

April 21: https://youtube.com/live/bbuAjdhpVf4?feature=share

Participation in the conference (in-person) – by invitation only.

Register here: https://forms.gle/G92jCjRqtrDBy3M87 

Strategic Forum: Filling the Normative Gap

Although treaties regulating genocide and war crimes have been a cornerstone of the international legal order for decades, the lack of a dedicated convention on crimes against humanity remains a significant legal gap. The Warsaw conference is a direct response to this challenge.

The timing of the conference lends it significant diplomatic weight. Under the current UN roadmap, 2026 is the year reserved for submitting official observations from Member States. Since this forum takes place just days before the April 30, 2026 deadline, it promises to be a potentially decisive venue for shaping international standards.

Expert Perspectives

The conference will be opened by Artur Harazim, Undersecretary of State at the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. His presence underscores the Polish government’s determination to “complete” the human rights protection system. Keynote speeches will be delivered by three distinguished figures:

• Prof. Guénaël Mettraux (Judge of The Kosovo Specialist Chambers) – a renowned criminal law expert who will outline the origins of the concept of crimes against humanity, creating a legal and historical framework for the debate.
• Ambassador Franz Perrez (Director General of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs) – as the keynote speaker of the final session, he will bring unparalleled diplomatic authority to the discussion. His expertise in international law will guide the panel “Towards the New Convention,” combining academic theory with the realities of the negotiations in New York.
• Paweł Wierdak (Legal Advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland and the Ministry’s Director of the Legal and Treaty Department) – in cooperation with Ambassador Perrez, he will present the Polish perspective on the pragmatic challenges related to the implementation of the new Convention in the modern security architecture.

Polish School of Law: From Lemkin to the Present Day

Poland’s role as a host stems from its tragic experience of the 20th century and the confrontation with two totalitarian systems. Continuing the legacy of Raphael Lemkin, the Pilecki Institute builds its identity around his intellectual achievements.

– Our goal is to identify specific elements of the crime and precedents that diplomats can use as practical tools during treaty negotiations – emphasizes Prof. Patrycja Grzebyk, a scholar from the Pilecki Institute’s Center for Totalitarian Studies and a Professor at the University of Warsaw.