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Serbia Standing Firm against Impunity By Sara Darehshori Published in El Mundo Many people in Bosnia and beyond thought they would never see Radovan Karadzic standing before the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). It seemed almost beyond the dreams of the rape victims that I interviewed in Bosnia in 1993, or those held in concentration camps But even then, in the midst of the conflict and in very difficult circumstances, local civilians had painstakingly gathered detailed testimonies from survivors in the hope that one day, there would be justice for these crimes. Even after the Yugoslav tribunal was established and had issued indictments against Karadzic for genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes, it seemed unlikely that he would ever be arrested. And yet this week he faced a panel of judges for his role in the massacre of men and boys after the fall of Srebrenica in July 1995, as well ascrimes in various cities across Bosnia, including the shelling of Sarajevo during the city’s siege. August 1, 2008 Commentary Also available in 
Printer friendly version Serbia's Lessons for Sudan By Steve Crawshaw, UN advocacy director for Human Rights Watch Published in The Guardian Online The fact that Radovan Karadzic will face trial has important ramifications for the case against Omar Bashir, which must not now be delayed. Most obviously, the arrest of Radovan Karadzic is good news for the victims of the Bosnian war and their relatives. As one woman in Srebrenica said this week: "Justice is achievable, after all." But this remarkable moment has a broader historic importance, too. July 24, 2008 Commentary Also available in 
Printer friendly version Bosnia: Karadzic Arrest a Blow Against Impunity EU Should Push Now for Detention of Mladic The arrest of Radovan Karadzic, the former president of Republika Srpska, marks a major blow against impunity for the egregious crimes committed in the Balkans, Human Rights Watch said today. Karadzic is charged with genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes, including the massacre of up to 8,000 Bosnian men and boys after the fall of Srebrenica in July 1995. July 21, 2008 Press Release Also available in 
Printer friendly version Kosovo: Bush Should Press Thaci on Human Rights Progress Needed on Justice Reform, Missing Serbs, Plight of Roma President George W. Bush should use his meeting with Kosovo’s prime minister to press for improvements to its poor human rights record, Human Rights Watch said today. Bush is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Hashim Thaci and Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu in Washington, DC, on Monday, July 21. July 18, 2008 Press Release Printer friendly version Still Waiting Bringing Justice for War Crimes, Crimes against Humanity, and Genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Cantonal and District Courts
HRW Index No.: 1-56432-341-2 July 10, 2008 Report Also available in
Download PDF, 347 KB, 74 pgs Purchase online Read Press Release Kosovo Must Come Clean on Missing Serbs If Pristina investigated the fate of more than 400 missing non-Albanians in Kosovo, it would prove it cared for all its citizens, regardless of ethnicity. When Carla Del Ponte’s book hit the media last month, coverage predictably highlighted her allegations concerning the possible trafficking of prisoners’ organs from a mysterious yellow house near the Albanian town of Burrel. While Serbian officials exaggerated the claims, officials in Pristina and Tirana called them a slanderous lie. May 19, 2008 Commentary Printer friendly version Kosovo/Albania: Investigate Postwar Abductions, Transfers to Albania Official Dismissals Premature Additional information has emerged that bolsters allegations of abductions and cross-border transfers from Kosovo to Albania after the 1998-1999 Kosovo war, Human Rights Watch said today. The Kosovar and Albanian governments should open independent and transparent investigations to help resolve the fate of approximately 400 Serbs who went missing after the war. May 5, 2008 Press Release Also available in 
Printer friendly version EU: Tie Serbia’s Membership to Mladic’s Arrest EU Members Should Not Backtrack on Their Commitment to Justice The European Union’s (EU) signing of the Stabilization Association Agreement (SAA) with Serbia today despite Belgrade’s failure to arrest accused war criminal Ratko Mladic is a setback to those seeking justice for genocide in Srebrenica, Human Rights Watch said today. EU member states should refuse to allow Serbia to take additional steps toward EU membership without full cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), including the surrender of Mladic. April 29, 2008 Press Release Printer friendly version Letter to Kosovar Authorities Calling for an Investigation into Serbs Missing Since 1999 As you know, Human Rights Watch has long documented violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in the Balkans. For almost two decades, we have been active in Croatia, Bosnia, Kosovo, and Macedonia, investigating human rights abuses committed by all sides and publishing numerous reports detailing violations. We have repeatedly called for violations to cease or, where there were credible but as yet unconfirmed allegations, to be investigated, and for the responsible individuals to be prosecuted. I am writing to you now to urge that a thorough investigation be carried out into allegations of atrocities committed during 1999 that have recently been placed into the public sphere. April 4, 2008 Letter Also available in
Printer friendly version Letter to Albanian Authorities Calling for an Investigation into Serbs Missing Since 1999 As you know, Human Rights Watch has long documented violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in the Balkans. For almost two decades, we have been active in Croatia, Bosnia, Kosovo, and Macedonia, investigating human rights abuses committed by all sides and publishing numerous reports detailing violations. We have repeatedly called for violations to cease or, where there were credible but as yet unconfirmed allegations, to be investigated, and for the responsible individuals to be prosecuted. I am writing to you now to urge that a thorough investigation be carried out into allegations of atrocities committed during 1999 that have recently been placed into the public sphere. April 4, 2008 Letter Also available in
Printer friendly version Kosovo: Criminal Justice System Fails Victims Inadequate Witness Protection Key Challenge for Authorities Kosovo’s government should fully cooperate with the European Union’s newly deployed rule-of-law mission in reforming Kosovo’s criminal justice system that remains extremely weak, despite efforts to strengthen it over the past two years, Human Rights Watch said in a new report released today. The EU mission (known as “EULEX”) is expected to lead justice reform efforts. The riots in Mitrovica on March 17, 2008, underscore the need for Kosovo to build a strong and effective criminal justice system to deter, investigate and prosecute any such acts of violence. March 28, 2008 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version Kosovo Criminal Justice Scorecard
HRW Index No.: D2002 March 28, 2008 Report Also available in
Download PDF, 152 KB, 33 pgs Purchase online Read Press Release Kosovo: EU Should Ensure International Mission is Accountable Success Will Depend on Effective Scrutiny of Human Rights Record The new European Union-led international mission to Kosovo must be subject to much greater scrutiny and accountability than its predecessor, the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), if it is to succeed, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the Norwegian Helsinki Committee said today. The NATO-led Kosovo Force should also be subject to much greater scrutiny. March 10, 2008 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version Serbia: Protect Civil Society and Minorities Government Should Unequivocally Condemn and Quell Violence Serbia’s government should act quickly to reduce the dangerously hostile climate for human rights groups, independent journalists and ethnic minority communities in the country, Human Rights Watch said today. February 26, 2008 Press Release Printer friendly version Kosovo: Build New State on Rule of Law Protecting Minority Rights Key to Kosovo’s Future As Kosovo is poised to declare independence, the new government and its international partners should build a state based on democratic principles and the rule of law, Human Rights Watch said in a seven-point human rights agenda for Kosovo issued today. The European Union-led mission charged with stabilizing the breakaway province once it secedes from Serbia should take urgent steps to prevent human rights abuses, particularly against minorities and women. February 15, 2008 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version A Human Rights Agenda for a New Kosovo This memorandum identifies seven of the most pressing human rights concerns in Kosovo today. To help identify the key concerns, Human Rights Watch consulted human rights groups across Kosovo’s different ethnic communities February 15, 2008 Memorandum Letter Commending Belgian Commitment on SAA with Serbia We are writing this public letter to commend your government’s commitment to refuse signature of the Stabilization Association Agreement (SAA) with Serbia in the absence of its full cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). February 13, 2008 Letter Printer friendly version Letter Commending Dutch Position on SAA with Serbia We are writing this public letter to commend your government’s principled stand in refusing to sign the Stabilization Association Agreement (SAA) with Serbia in the absence of its full cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). We also appreciate your government’s clear definition of full cooperation with the Yugoslav tribunal: Serbia must hand over the remaining fugitives to the ICTY before the European Union (EU) will sign the SAA. February 12, 2008 Letter Printer friendly version Kosovo: the vulnerable have been forgotten By Wanda Troszczynska-van Genderen, Western Balkans researcher Published in Guardian Unlimited The search for a solution to Kosovo's status must not be an excuse for the authorities turning a blind eye to its serious human rights problems December 10, 2007 Commentary Also available in
Printer friendly version EU/Serbia: Don’t Compromise on Mladic EU Should Insist on Full Cooperation With Yugoslav Tribunal The European Commission’s decision to move ahead with an association agreement with Serbia despite Belgrade’s failure to arrest a key suspect could threaten efforts to bring war criminals to justice, Human Rights Watch said today. November 6, 2007 Press Release Printer friendly version |
Focus on Kosovo
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