People of Justice

They are practitioners of international law, judges, prosecutors, investigators from the United Nations’ International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT). They fight for truth and justice on behalf of the victims of genocide and other crimes committed during the aggression perpetrated against Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1992 to 1995.

All of them embody the knowledge, passion, perseverance and enthusiasm that it takes to unwaveringly pursue the truth for the good of humanity. Some of them, or their families and neighbors, were victims of the Holocaust, and others grew up with relatives who fought for human rights and against apartheid. They have cared their whole lives about civilian victims, and have sought justice for them via international law and the constant defense of universal human values, with the message that achieving lasting peace requires implementing justice and confronting the truth. These people “realized that the need for justice is an inherent part of man’s nature and consider it a great honor and a real privilege to advocate and speak for the victims.

They have listened to the voices of survivors, who deeply appreciate their commitment to the fight for truth and justice, and in whose name they have advocated at the UN, the IRMCT, the European Parliament, the Council of Europe, and among the general public. To this day they call on us all to remember, to truly hear the voices of victims, and to reflect meaningfully on their words.

The jurisprudence of these institutions can be more powerful than weapons.

The messages they convey indicate the directions that the institutions in which they served should take, and the actions to which the non-governmental sector should aspire in order to achieve international human rights—to be among those who are on the side of humanity. In this way, they can create an indefinite instrument of protection against the impunity of these tragedies, and establish a rule of law through which we can express and respect our shared values.

That path should be recognized as a great honor and privilege.