Serge Brammertz, Chief Prosecutor, International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.
Washington—The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, and the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission (TLHRC) today announced the briefing:
The International Tribunal and Beyond:
Pursuing Justice for Atrocities in the Western Balkans
Between 1991 and 2001 the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, made up of six republics, was broken apart by a series of brutal armed conflicts. The conflicts were characterized by widespread and flagrant violations of international humanitarian law, among them mass killings of civilians, the massive, organized and systematic detention and rape of women, torture, and practices of ethnic cleansing, including forced displacement.
In 1992 the U.N. established a Commission of Experts that documented the horrific crimes on the ground and led to the 1993 creation of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). This month, after more than two decades of persistent, ground-breaking efforts to prosecute the individuals responsible for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide in the former Yugoslavia, the ICTY is concluding its work. As it prepares to close its doors, this briefing will assess the tribunal’s achievements and limitations, and most importantly, what still needs to be done by the countries of the region to seek justice in outstanding cases, bring greater closure to victims, and foster greater reconciliation among peoples.
Panelists will discuss these questions and suggest ways that the United States, Europe, and the international community as a whole can encourage the further pursuit of justice in the Western Balkans.
Panelists:
- Serge Brammertz, Chief Prosecutor, International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
- Nemanja Stjepanovic, Member of the Executive Board, Humanitarian Law Center (from Belgrade, Serbia, live via video)
- Diane Orentllicher, Professor of Law, Washington College of Law, American University
Tuesday, December 12, 2017
10:00 AM – 11:30 PM
Rayburn House Office Building
Room 2255
Live Webcast: www.facebook.com/HelsinkiCommission
