The UN commends the Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, as the final judgment has been delivered
Jovica Stanišić and Franko Simatović were convicted by the court – part of the International Criminal Courts (IRMCT) which received mandate from the ICTY – in 2021, for their roles in training death squads accused of ethnic cleansing during the conflict that saw the secession. of the former Yugoslavia in the early 1990s.
The court had originally sentenced the two to 12 years in 2021, but Wednesday’s appeal judgment against them, increased to 15 years, on the grounds that they were “guilty of members of a small criminal organization for crimes committed by many Serb forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1992″, as well as being responsible for murder, in the same year.
Justice for the victims
In a statement, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said Secretary-General António Guterres “consider this appeal and extend your thoughts to the victims, as well as the survivors and their families who have suffered the crimes for which the two lawyers have been convicted.”
The verdict marks the end of the last case related to “serious crimes” inherited from the ICTY Mechanism, which was established in 1993 to prosecute suspected war criminals.
IRMCT’s general counsel, Serge Brammertz, said the decision shows that the international community, “when we unite, can do justice to the victims and hold the most senior perpetrators responsible for their crimes.
Remembering the victims and survivors, and the great courage of the witnesses who have come forward, he added that there are still thousands of war crimes suspects throughout the former Yugoslavia, “who was to be prosecuted.”
“We will continue our intensive efforts to provide assistance to our countrymen, to ensure that more justice is achieved for more victims.”
Truth wins
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, also welcomed Thursday’s final verdict, describing the outcome as an important step to establish the truth and combat impunity.
“The extraordinary work and legacy of the Tribunal and of the International Criminal Court before it, not only contributed to the establishment of truth, justice and accountability over the years but also powerful advanced international justice justice international standards” said Mr. Türk.
As the Secretary-General, the UN rights chief showed the courage, resilience and perseverance of the survivors and families who, despite the terrible trauma, did not stop seeking truth and justice.
“I want to praise, strongly, the survivors and their families, whose suffering is unimaginable but who persist in seeking their rights,” he said.
He also emphasized that many survivors and their families are still waiting for truth, justice and retribution.
The threat continues
Many victims continue to face threats, intimidation, hate speech and rhetoric, including the rejection of court decisions; deny that the crimes were committed; justice of the hand; and the glory of war criminals.
“Judgments like today, reminds us of a terrible past to which we must not return.
He urged the authorities, “media companies and people in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia, North Macedonia and Kosovo, to step up efforts to advance truth, justice, reparation and non-reparation claims.
“Revised narratives, genocide denial, divisive rhetoric and hate speech, from any quarter, are unacceptable.”
