The Hague, June 2010

President Patrick
Lipton Robinson

« Welcome to the official website of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. This website contains a wealth of information regarding all facets of the Tribunal’s efforts to carry out the historic mandate entrusted to it by the United Nations Security Council in Resolution 827 of 25 May 1993. Since its inception, the Tribunal has made significant progress in accomplishing its fourfold mission of prosecuting persons accused of crimes committed in the former Yugoslavia after 1991, rendering justice to victims of those crimes, deterring future crimes, and contributing to the restoration of peace by promoting reconciliation in the former Yugoslavia. Its success has demonstrated that, with international support, international courts and tribunals can combat impunity by bringing perpetrators of war crimes and genocide to justice.

Our accomplishments to date include the conclusion of proceedings against 123 persons.  Of these, 62 persons have been convicted and 12 have been acquitted.  However, a considerable amount of work remains, with proceedings ongoing for 38 accused. Only two of the 161 accused that have been indicted by the Tribunal -Ratko Mladić and Goran Hadžić- remain at large. Their arrest and trial are vital to the successful completion of the Tribunal’s mandate. The Tribunal depends on the cooperation of states in the Balkans and elsewhere for the apprehension of these remaining fugitives.

“ The Tribunal has undertaken several initiatives to strengthen the capacity of the courts in the states of the former Yugoslavia to prosecute war crimes cases in accordance with international standards of due process. ”

The Tribunal has adopted various measures in order to achieve the goals set forth in its Completion Strategy, as endorsed by the Security Council in resolutions 1503 (2003) and 1534 (2004).

Estimates as of June 2010 suggest that all trials are expected to be completed by mid-2012, with the exception of that of Radovan Karadžić, which is expected to finish in late 2012. Most appellate work is scheduled to be completed by end 2013.

As part of this Strategy, the Tribunal has placed its focus on the prosecution and trial of the most senior accused while referring cases involving intermediate- and lower-ranking accused to national courts. In this respect, the Tribunal has undertaken several initiatives to strengthen the capacity of the courts in the states of the former Yugoslavia to prosecute war crimes cases in accordance with international standards of due process. Some of these initiatives have involved training national judges, prosecutors and court personnel and hosting working visits of judges and prosecutors from the region. To date, 13 accused have been referred to domestic courts in the former Yugoslavia.

The Tribunal has also implemented a host of internal and external measures to expedite proceedings with full respect for due process and fair trial principles. In this regard, the Judges of the Tribunal have adopted a number of Rule amendments incorporating the recommendations of the Tribunal’s Working Group on Speeding Up Trials. For instance, in May 2006, the Judges adopted an amendment to Rule 73 bis to authorize Trial Chambers to either invite or direct the Prosecution to select those counts in the indictment on which to proceed. The Judges considered that this amendment was necessary to ensure respect for an accused’s right to a fair and expeditious trial and to prevent unduly lengthy periods of pre-trial detention. As well, in September 2006, the Judges adopted Rule 92 ter and 92 quarter, which have increased the ability of Trial Chambers to consider written witness statements and transcripts of witnesses in lieu of oral testimony where that evidence goes to the acts and conduct of an accused. Each of these measures has had a fundamental impact on the efficiency of the Tribunal’s proceedings.

The Tribunal’s success attests to the perseverance, creativity and dedication of its over 1,100 staff representing some 83 nationalities who are working together to fulfil the mandate established by the Security Council in 1993. It is also a testament to the support the Tribunal has received from the international community and from the people in the states of the former Yugoslavia.

I hope that this website will serve as a useful tool for understanding and appreciating the atrocities which occurred in the former Yugoslavia during the conflict in the 1990s as well as the considerable efforts undertaken by the international community to put an end to them and bring to justice the persons responsible for them. »

Patrick L. Robinson
President of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia