The Drafting Group on the Eradication of Impunity for Serious Human Rights Violations (CDDH-ELI) has adopted a draft study on the need for and feasibility of (an) additional non-binding instrument(s) to complement the 2011 Committee of Ministers Guidelines on the eradication of impunity for serious human rights violations.
The draft study concludes that, while the 2011 Guidelines remain a solid and relevant framework, there are a number of thematic gaps or areas where the Guidelines would benefit from clarification or further development. The CDDH-ELI found that this could generally be best achieved through revision of the Guidelines, with the use of annexes on issues where more detailed guidance is needed.
The draft study recommends that the Committee of Ministers instruct the CDDH to prepare a draft revised version of the 2011 Guidelines as the principal outcome of this work and to submit, if necessary, an interim report identifying issues that are not politically or structurally suitable for inclusion in revised Guidelines and that should therefore be addressed in (a) complementary non-binding instrument(s).
During its fifth meeting (14 – 16 October 2025), the Group examined the revised sections of the draft study relating to criminal law (Cluster 3), the rights of victims (Cluster 4), and other issues (Cluster 5). Members reviewed the written and oral proposals submitted prior to and during the meeting and agreed on several amendments to the text.
The Group also examined the preliminary draft conclusions initially considered at its previous meeting, before approving the draft study as a whole.
The finalised draft study will be examined by the Steering Committee for Human Rights (CDDH) with a view to adoption at its forthcoming plenary meeting on 24 to 27 November 2025.
If the Committee of Ministers then agrees with the CDDH’s proposals, the CDDH-ELI could resume its work in 2026 to implement those proposals, with a view to further supporting member States in eradicating impunity for serious human rights violations.
- Read the meeting report of the 5th meeting of the CDDH-ELI (Revised on 3 November)
- More about the CDDH-ELI
