OSCE publishes spot report on implementation of National War Crimes Processing Strategy in Bosnia and Herzegovina
The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) presented its spot report on the implementation of the National War Crimes Processing Strategy in Sarajevo on 27 September 2018.
The report, “Observations on the National War Crimes Processing Strategy and its 2018 Draft Revisions, including its relation to the Rules of the Road Category A cases”, reviews the progress achieved by the BiH judiciary since the introduction of the National War Crimes Processing Strategy in 2008 and identifies challenges and obstacles in its implementation that the Revised Strategy aims to address.
The OSCE Mission to BiH urged the BiH Council of Ministers to adopt the Revised National War Crimes Processing Strategy without further delay. “While delivering justice and ending impunity for these terrible crimes will continue to require a great deal of effort by the entire justice sector, it also requires political will and support. This support should come from ordinary citizens as well as the highest levels of government,” said the Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH, Bruce G. Berton.
The Revised National War Crimes Processing Strategy addresses the challenges that remain in ensuring that these cases are processed efficiently. By building on the progress achieved since the adoption of the original strategy, it will help secure justice for war crimes victims and will support the country as it moves forward towards reconciliation and lasting peace.