European Treaty Series - No. 82

     
EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON THE NON-APPLICABILITY OF STATUTORY LIMITATION TO CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY AND WAR CRIMES

Strasbourg, 25.I.74

The member States of the Council of Europe, signatory hereto,

Considering the necessity to safeguard human dignity in time of war and in time of peace;

Considering that crimes against humanity and the most serious violations of the laws and customs of war constitute a serious infraction of human dignity;

Concerned in consequence to ensure that the punishment of those crimes is not prevented by statutory limitations whether in relation to prosecution or to the enforcement of the punishment;

Considering the essential interest in promoting a common criminal policy in this field, the aim of the Council of Europe being to achieve a greater unity between its members,

Have agreed as follows: