Brammertz: Over 2,000 Suspects in the Former Yugoslavia Still Await Investigation

(Patria) - Chief Prosecutor of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Courts Serge Brammertz addressed the United Nations (UN) Security Council today, highlighting three key issues - enforcement of sentences for individuals convicted before the tribunals and the Mechanism, support for national judiciaries in achieving justice for victims of crimes committed in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia, and preserving truth, reconciliation, and education through public access to the Mechanism's archives.

Brammertz began by recalling the results achieved over the past three decades.

- Through the ad hoc tribunals and the Mechanism, the Security Council and the United Nations have achieved an unparalleled result in the area of accountability and justice. 254 individuals were indicted, 154 were convicted, and there are no more fugitives - said Brammertz.

He added that this result is a confirmation of the UN's commitment to justice and accountability.

Speaking about the enforcement of sentences, he emphasized that it represents a fundamental principle of criminal justice.

- The tribunals and the Mechanism had a mandate to prosecute individuals and establish their personal responsibility for the crimes committed. Guilt belongs exclusively to them, and the sentence relates to the acts they committed. There is no collective, but individual criminal responsibility - he said.

Reflecting on the current work of the Office of the Prosecutor (OTP), Brammertz noted that one of the most important results of the tribunals' completion strategy is that member states have assumed full responsibility for continuing the process of establishing accountability.

He recalled that significant work still lies ahead for national judiciaries, stating that Rwandan authorities are still searching for over 1,000 individuals suspected of genocide, while in the countries of the former Yugoslavia, more than 2,000 suspects have yet to be investigated.

- Member states consistently emphasize how essential my Office is in supporting their work. Achieving justice before their courts depends on the evidence and expertise provided by my Office - he said.

Speaking about the Mechanism's archives, Brammertz stressed that it is crucial to preserve the memory of victims and survivors.

- It is key that the stories of victims and survivors continue to live. It is through remembrance that we honor them - he said.

He added that truth is needed today more than ever, warning that denial of crimes and glorification of war criminals persist.

- Reconciliation depends on full respect for the suffering of all victims, regardless of their affiliation - he emphasized.

He also stressed that the experiences of Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia remain extremely important because education about the crimes committed helps in recognizing warning signs and contributes to preventing future crimes.

At the end of his address, Brammertz presented three recommendations based on his experience as Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and the Mechanism.

He proposed that the Mechanism remain responsible for enforcing sentences of those convicted before the tribunals and that institution, that the mandate of the Office of the Prosecutor to assist national judiciaries in prosecuting crimes committed in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia be transferred to the UN Secretariat, along with part of the archival material and staff, and that the Mechanism's archives be entrusted to the UN for long-term management and public access.

Concluding his address, he stated that thanks to the continuous support of the Security Council for the tribunals and the institution he heads, a large number of victims in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia have received the justice they deserve, the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Courts announced.