Legal Definitions - International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia

The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) is a court established by the United Nations to prosecute individuals who committed war crimes during the Balkan conflict in the 1990s. It was created on May 25, 1993, and is the first international war crimes tribunal since the Nuremberg and Tokyo tribunals.

The ICTY's main goal is to hold accountable those who are most responsible for committing heinous acts such as genocide, enslavement, torture, rape, and other inhumane acts. The tribunal has jurisdiction over individuals who committed crimes on the territory of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, including land, airspace, and territorial waters starting on January 1, 1991.

The ICTY has primacy over national courts and has convicted 160 individuals to date. These individuals include political and military leaders, as well as soldiers and civilians who committed war crimes during the Balkan conflict. For example, former Serbian President Slobodan Milošević was indicted by the ICTY for crimes against humanity, genocide, and war crimes committed during the conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The ICTY's work has been crucial in bringing justice to victims of war crimes and holding perpetrators accountable for their actions. Its efforts have helped to establish the principle that individuals who commit war crimes will be held responsible, regardless of their position or status.