The United Nations Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide said the conviction of former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity “will resonate across the world” as he reiterated the importance of accountability.
In a statement released in response to the conviction Adama Dieng said the verdict “sends a clear message that impunity will not prevail and that no one is above the law.”
“This verdict will resonate across the world and is a warning to all those who are committing or condoning the commission of acts that can incite or constitute atrocity crimes: it sends the message that wherever and whoever you are, sooner or later you will also face the weight of justice,” he said.
Mr Dieng went on to add that the verdict “is not only about the past but is also about the future”. “Accountability constitutes a critical component of prevention and also an important step along the path to national post-crisis reconciliation,” he said, adding “this verdict will assist the entire region to think about what happened, learn the lessons of the past and chart a future that fully acknowledges the past”.
“It is abundantly clear when we look at events of the last decades that absence of accountability increases the risk that atrocity crimes will be committed. Let us spare no effort to ensure that all necessary measures are taken to facilitate access of every single victim to impartial and independent justice.”
See the full text of his statement here.
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