A Chance for Justice?

Executive Summary

Background

Importance of War Crimes Prosecutions in Republika Srpska

Significant Number of War Crimes Cases Yet To Be Heard

Seriousness of Underlying Crimes

Importance to Victims and Relatives

Experience of Domestic War Crimes Prosecutions in the Region

Limited Progress on War Crimes Accountability

War Crime Cases in Republika Srpska prior to 2005

War Crimes Trials in Republika Srpska in late 2005

Obstacles to More Effective Prosecutions

Limited Prosecutorial Resources

Staffing Limitations

Lack of Investigative Capacity

No Specialist War Crimes Prosecutors

Special Department for War Crimes as a Potential Model

Limited Assistance by Republika Srpska Police

Failure to Make Use of Available Evidence

Information Gathered by NGOs

ICTY Transcripts and Other Material

Witness Intimidation and Fatigue

Non-Availability of Suspects

Recommendations

Recommendations to Republika Srpska Authorities

To all Republika Srpska authorities with competence concerning investigation and prosecution of war crimes

To district prosecutors

To the Chief Prosecutor of Republika Srpska

To Bosnia and Herzegovina Central Authorities

To legislative and judicial authorities

To the Office of the Prosecutor of Bosnia and Herzegovina

To the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council

To Relevant International Actors

To the governments of Croatia and of Serbia and Montenegro

To the European Union and its member states, the United States government, the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and other relevant actors of the international community

To the international donor community

To the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia

To the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Mission to Bosnia

Acknowledgements