Second Report on the Implementation of the National Strategy for the Prosecution of War Crimes
Second Report on the Implementation of the National Strategy for the Prosecution of War Crimes

Author(s): Višnja Šijačić
Subject(s): Law, Constitution, Jurisprudence, Criminal Law, Human Rights and Humanitarian Law
Published by: Fond za humanitarno pravo
Keywords: War Crimes; Serbia; European Commission; Security Council
Summary/Abstract: On 20 February 2016, the Government of the Republic of Serbia adopted the National Strategy for the Prosecution of War Crimes 2016-2020, which detailed a set of activities to help achieve the common objective of improving the prosecution of war crimes in Serbia. Determining individual criminal responsibility for war crimes committed during the 1990s is one of the formal conditions that Serbia has to meet to join the EU.5 As a direct response to the recommendations made by the European Commission in its Screening Report on Chapter 23, Serbia has adopted the Action Plan for Chapter 23 relating to judicial reform and fundamental rights, and also war crimes.The Humanitarian Law Center (HLC) has been monitoring and analyzing war crimes trials in Serbia since the first proceedings in the Republic of Serbia in 2002. The HLC is the only organization that does this continuously and informs the domestic and international public about it. In war crimes cases, it represents victims (injured parties) through a proxy, submits criminal charges against suspects to the War Crimes Prosecutor's Office (TRZ) and provides documentation on committed war crimes. The HLC also identifies and encourages witnesses and victims to testify in war crimes cases, thus contributing to the establishment of justice for past crimes. The National Strategy for War Crimes Prosecution (hereinafter: the National Strategy), adopted by the Government of the Republic of Serbia in February 2016, is based, inter alia, on the Strategy Model developed by the HLC. The HLC reports on the implementation of the National Strategy, with the aim of offering independent research findings and conclusions on its implementation during the period of validity of the National Strategy. This is the second such report on the implementation of the National Strategy published by the HLC. The First Report on the Implementation of the National Strategy for War Crimes Prosecution, which was presented by the HLC in December 2017, is also relevant for a complete insight into the implementation of the National Strategy so far.

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