The countries of the Western Balkans have taken significant steps toward judicial accountability, through war crimes trials conducted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and other transitional justice mechanisms. However, victims' continued demands to be heard and for the overall human cost of the region’s conflict to be examined indicate the need for specific truth-seeking mechanisms.
In 2006, civil society groups from across the region proposed setting up a regional truth commission (RECOM) to establish the facts about human rights violations committed during the conflict in the former Yugoslavia between 1991 and 2001. This aims to help construct a more comprehensive historical record of the conflict; avoid political denial; and ultimately help restore victims' dignity, rights, and trust in state institutions to help prevent the recurrence of human rights violations. View RECOM's draft mandate.
Join ICTJ as we co-host a delegation of RECOM’s leaders at two events in New York on November 14 and 15. They will share their experience campaigning for truth in the Western Balkans, present the draft mandate submitted to the presidents of the region, and discuss a successful public campaign that has gathered over 500,000 signatures in support of the commission.
As more transitional justice scenarios deal with situations involving multiple countries, the RECOM initiative offers a unique perspective to discuss the potential of future regional truth commissions.
Establishing a Regional Truth Commission for the Western Balkans
Hosted by ICTJ and the Open Society Foundation November 14 2011, 3:00–5:30 p.m ICTJ, 5 Hanover Square, New York View event and RSVP
Transitional Justice in the Western Balkans: Is a Regional Truth Commission Possible?
Hosted by ICTJ and the Center for Human Rights and Global Justice at NYU School of Law November 15, 2011, 12:00–1:30 p.m Furman Hall, Room 10 (245 Sullivan St.), NYU, New York View event and RSVP
Photo: Srebrenica massacre memorial, Bosnia. Maud Ayuto, Flickr.
