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The International Tribunal and Beyond: Pursuing Justice for Atrocities in the Western Balkans

Date:
Location:
2255 Rayburn House Office Building

Announcement

Co-hosted by the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe

Please join the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission (TLHRC) and the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (also known as the U.S. Helsinki Commission) for a joint briefing on the state of accountability for atrocities committed during the 1990s wars in the western Balkans, as the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) completes its mandate.

Between 1991 and 2001 the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, made up of six republics, was broken apart by a series of brutal armed conflicts. The conflicts were characterized by widespread and flagrant violations of international humanitarian law, among them mass killings of civilians, the massive, organized and systematic detention and rape of women, torture, and practices of ethnic cleansing, including forced displacement.

In 1992 the U.N. established a Commission of Experts that documented the horrific crimes on the ground and led to the 1993 creation of the ICTY. This month, after more than two decades of persistent, ground-breaking efforts to prosecute the individuals responsible for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide in the former Yugoslavia, the ICTY is concluding its work. As it prepares to close its doors, this briefing will assess the tribunal’s achievements and limitations, and most importantly, what still needs to be done by the countries of the region to seek justice in outstanding cases, bring greater closure to victims, and foster greater reconciliation among peoples.

Panelists will discuss these questions and suggest ways that the United States, Europe and the international community as a whole can encourage the further pursuit of justice in the Western Balkans. 

This briefing is open to Members of Congress, congressional staff, the interested public, and the media. For any questions, please contact Kimberly Stanton (for Mr. McGovern) at 202-226-6379 or Kimberly.Stanton@mail.house.gov or Matthew Singer (for Mr. Hultgren) at (202-226-3989) or Matthew.Singer@mail.house.gov or Bob Hand of the Helsinki Commission staff at Robert.Hand@mail.house.gov or 202-225-1901.

Hosted by:

James P. McGovern
Member of Congress
Co-Chair, TLHRC
Sen. Roger Wicker
Chairman, Helsinki Commission
Randy Hultgren
Member of Congress
Co-Chair, TLHRC
Witnesses

Opening Remarks

  • Rep. Randy Hultgren, Co-Chair, Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission
    Written remarks
  • Rep. Eliot L. Engel, Ranking Member, House Foreign Affairs Committee
    Written remarks

Panelists

  • Serge Brammertz, Chief Prosecutor, International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
    Written statement
  • Nemanja Stjepanovic, Humanitarian Law Fund (from Belgrade, Serbia, live via video)
    Written statement
  • Diane Orentllicher, Professor of Law, Washington College of Law, American University
    Written statement

Moderator

Bios

Meeting Documents

Contact The Commission

Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission
House Committee on Foreign Affairs
4150 O'Neill House Office Building
200 C Street SW
Washington, D.C. 20515
United States of America

Phone: +1 (202) 225-3599
Fax: +1 (202) 226-6584
TLHRC@mail.house.gov

Accessibility

The Commission seeks to make its events, meetings and hearings accessible to persons with disabilities.

If you are in need of special accommodations, please call (202) 225-3599 at least four business days in advance.

Questions with regard to special accommodations in general (including availability of Commission materials in alternative formats and assistive listening devices, sign language interpretation, etc.) may be directed to the Commission.

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