ACTING CHIEF PROSECUTOR GORDANA TADIĆ SPOKE AT THE -ICTY LEGACY DIALOGUES CONFERENCE-ABOUT THE CHALLENGES OF PROSECUTION IN INVESTIGATIONS AND STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF PROSECUTION OF WAR CRIMES OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE BY BOTH THE ICTY AND THE BIH JUDICIARY

Acting Chief Prosecutor of the Prosecutor’s Office of BiH, Gordana Tadić, participated in the ICTY Legacy Conference which is taking place in Sarajevo and spoke about two very important topics regarding prosecution of war crimes and violations of international humanitarian law. 

Prosecutor Tadić gave a presentation during the launch of the translation of the book ‘Prosecuting Conflict-Related Sexual Violence at the ICTY’ authored by the ICTY Prosecutor - Serge Brammertz and Deputy to the ICTY Prosecutor - Michelle Jarvis. The book addresses the gravity and seriousness of war crimes of rape and sexual abuse in armed conflicts, which were prosecuted by the Hague Tribunal, from a judicial, human and civilization related aspect.

Prosecutor Tadić pointed out that the aforementioned publication addresses the gravity of these crimes on a scientific and legal basis, as well as the cruelty of the perpetrators and serious consequences that these crimes have caused for victims, their families or the entire community in which the victims live and reside.

Acting Chief Prosecutor emphasized that the book is an important document and testimony of a very important aspect of international humanitarian law, which protects the dignity of the victims and the values of the civilization.

Acting Chief Prosecutor - Gordana Tadić also spoke at an Operational Legacy Panel about the operative challenges in investigating war crimes cases. In her presentation, the Prosecutor stated that the investigations in war crimes cases are very complex and lengthy procedures involving locating and examining dozens of witnesses in a case, some of which are located outside BiH, diligently searching for evidence which are not always readily available, finding solutions for many problems arising in practice, as well as persistent search for the remains of victims of war crimes and their identification.

At the end of this year the Hague Tribunal (ICTY) shall, after 24 years of existence, end its mandate hence it will be the task of judicial institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina to continue to prosecute war crimes cases in Bosnia and Herzegovina at State, Entity and Brčko District level.

The Prosecutor’s Office of BiH has good cooperation with the ICTY and will continue to work on bringing justice to victims of war crimes.