ANNOUNCEMENT: Presentation of the Second Report on the Implementation of the National War Crimes Prosecution Strategy and the Policy Paper: Accounting for Missing Persons from the Armed Conflicts of the 1990s in the Former Yugoslavia

ANNOUNCEMENT: Presentation of the Second Report on the Implementation of the National War Crimes Prosecution Strategy and the Policy Paper: Accounting for Missing Persons from the Armed Conflicts of the 1990s in the Former Yugoslavia

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On Friday, 27 July 2018, the Humanitarian Law Center (HLC) will present the “Second Report on the Implementation of the National Strategy for the Prosecution of War Crimes” and the “Policy Paper: Accounting for Missing Persons from the Armed Conflicts of the 1990s in the Former Yugoslavia”. The presentation will take place at 11:00 in the Great Hall of the Media Centre (Terazije 3, 2nd Floor).

On 20 February 2016, the Government of the Republic of Serbia adopted the first National Strategy for the Prosecution of War Crimes 2016-2020. The HLC has been monitoring the implementation of the National Strategy since its adoption, in order to offer its independent assessment of and findings on the state of implementation of the National Strategy. The initial HLC report on the implementation of the National Strategy was released in December 2017.The second HLC report on the implementation of the National Strategy (Report) provides an overview of the implementation of activities in the period from 1 December 2017 to 01 June 2018, in eight areas covered by the National Strategy. The report points to key deficiencies and identifies recommendations for improving the situation in these areas.

The HLC will also present its “Policy Paper: Accounting for Missing Persons from the Armed Conflicts of the 1990s in the Former Yugoslavia”, which provides an overview of the current results and of the challenges that have arisen in the process of searching for persons who went missing during armed conflicts in the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s, and proposes recommendations for improving efficiency in this area.

Speakers:

  • Jelena Krstic, Humanitarian Law Center
  • Višnja Šijačić, Humanitarian Law Center
  • Gordana Đikanović, journalist from Pristina, member of the Association of the Families of Kosovo and Metohija Victims
  • Matthew Holliday, International Commission on Missing Persons (TBC)

Simultaneous interpretation into English will be provided.

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23 years since the genocide in Srebrenica – State of Serbia to end prolongation of court proceedings and cease to undermine and reduce the crime

23 years since the genocide in Srebrenica – State of Serbia to end prolongation of court proceedings and cease to undermine and reduce the crime

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On July 11, 2018, it will be 23 years since the genocide was committed in Srebrenica, when members of the Republika Srpska Army (VRS) killed almost 8,000 Bosniaks. Although in several judgments of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia it was determined that it was genocide committed in Srebrenica, the authorities in Serbia still continue to refuse to accept this fact, arguing that “it is unacceptable that the Serbs are declared genocidal and evil every July“. The Humanitarian Law Center (HLC) believes that after 23 years it is necessary for the Serbian government to act in a politically mature manner and accept the facts established by the court; and that the state organs involved in the proceedings currently pending before the domestic courts cease with their prolongations, in order to restore dignity to the victims and accord them acknowledgement of their suffering for the loss of their loved ones.

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Srebrenica Prison Sentences: 699 Years and Counting

Srebrenica Prison Sentences: 699 Years and Counting

BalkanInsight_logoThe Hague Tribunal and domestic courts have sentenced 45 people to 699 years in prison – plus three life sentences – for genocide, crimes against humanity and other offences against Bosniaks from Srebrenica in July 1995.


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The Negative Impact the Court of Appeal Judgment in the Skočić Case will Have on War Crimes Trials in Serbia

The Negative Impact the Court of Appeal Judgment in the Skočić Case will Have on War Crimes Trials in Serbia

Presuda Skočić - MC

With regard to the judgment rendered by the Court of Appeal in Belgrade in the case of the crime committed in July 1992 in the town of Skočić near Zvornik, the Humanitarian Law Center (HLC) held a press conference on July 6th, 2018. When deciding upon the appeal, the Court of Appeal in Belgrade upheld the acquittal of members of the „Sima’s Chetniks“ unit for the destruction of a mosque and murder of 27 Roma civilians committed in the village of Skočić in July 1992, but modified the judgment in the case of the accused Zoran Alić, Zoran Đurđević and Tomislav Gavrić, finding them guilty of inhumane treatment, violation of physical integrity, sexual humiliation and rape of protected witnesses.

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