What is the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY)?

The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) was established by the United Nations (UN) in 1993 in response to war crimes and other serious violations of international humanitarian law committed in the territories of the former Yugoslavia. The ICTY was the first international tribunal of its kind to prosecute individuals for serious wartime crimes such as genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. It is based in The Hague, Netherlands. The Tribunal has charged 161 individuals in its 24 years of operation. The Tribunal’s mandate includes both prosecuting individuals implicated in the serious crimes, and maintaining accountability for those responsible. Many of the prosecuted individuals were leaders of the armed forces in the former Yugoslavia or were top politicians. The Tribunal has had an incredible impact on international justice and promoting international human rights standards. It has brought some of the most heinous war criminals to justice, and has ensured that the victims of these serious crimes in the former Yugoslavia are not forgotten. It has also set an example for other tribunals, such as the International Criminal Court (ICC), that have been established in other parts of the world. The ICTY is currently slated to close its activities in 2017 after completing the remaining trials and proceedings involving its current suspects. While its mandate may come to an end, the impact it has had on international criminal justice is sure to be felt for many years to come.

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What is the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY)?

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