The region of the former Yugoslavia is at the centre of the ICTY’s work. The mandate of the Tribunal is to contribute to a lasting peace in this region. In view of the international nature of the Tribunal and its physical distance from the communities affected by the crimes under its jurisdiction, a serious outreach effort was undertaken to make justice rendered in the Tribunal’s courtrooms seen in its natural constituency - the former Yugoslavia.

The ICTY was always envisaged as a body complementary to the prosecutions of war crimes by the national judiciaries in the former Yugoslavia. It greatly influenced the development of national judicial institutions tasked with investigating, prosecuting and providing fair trials for war crimes. In partnership with the countries of the former Yugoslavia, the Tribunal strives to leave a lasting legacy and to ensure a permanent shift from impunity to a culture of accountability.

Through the ICTY Outreach Programme, the Tribunal is actively making its trials and judgements accessible and understandable to audiences in the territory of the former Yugoslavia. Besides The Hague, the Outreach Programme has offices in Sarajevo, Belgrade, Zagreb and Prishtine/Priština.

In accordance with its completion strategy, the Tribunal is committed to helping the capacity building of domestic judiciaries to handle war crimes cases, including those transferred from the ICTY. Through various training programmes and study visits, the Tribunal shares expertise with lawyers and other professionals in the former Yugoslavia.

The transfer of cases and evidence from the ICTY to national jurisdictions means that the planned closure will not imply impunity for the perpetrators not yet brought to justice. The Tribunal’s Prosecution is handing over to national prosecutors cases which were investigated but for which indictments were not issued by the ICTY. Also, a small number of accused already indicted by the ICTY were transferred to the region for trial before domestic courts.