The judgment passed by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) which acquitted Serbia from responsibility of genocide in Srebrenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), has caused concern among victims in the states formed on the territory of the former Yugoslavia, since what is now general knowledge of the involvement of Serbia in the Srebrenica genocide was not confirmed in court.
The fact that the Republic of Serbia, even after toppling Milosevic, continued hiding evidence of its support of, and direct involvement in, criminal acts in BiH, gravely incriminates today’s Serbia and casts a shadow of doubt on the judgment of the ICJ, leading us to believe that it was not based on actual events.
Additional concern is caused by the evident apathy of Republika Srpska and the Republic of Serbia in terms of fulfilling their obligations determined by the ICJ judgment, which found the Republika Srpska responsible for the crime of genocide of the Bosniak population in Srebrenica, and the Republic of Serbia responsible for failure to prevent and punish the perpetrators of the genocide – the gravest of all crimes.
We call upon the government of the Republic of Serbia and Republika Srpska to act responsibly towards the legacy of the past and towards future generations, to set in motion all mechanisms necessary to fulfil obligations as stipulated in the ICJ judgment, and, since they were declared responsible for either perpetrating or failing to prevent genocide, to open public debates in their respective parliaments and in society on accountability, reparations for the victims, and on the importance of official acceptance of the truth. Serbia is responsible to make public all censored documents thus proving that it is not protecting the criminal institutions of the Milosevic regime.
Regional Women’s lobby
Ms. Natasa Kandic (Serbia), Humanitarian Law Center
Ms. Gordana Sobol (Croatia), Head of the Parliamentary Commission for Gender Equlity
Ms. Meliha Alic (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Minister of Education and Science
Ms. Nekibe Kelmendi (Kosovo), Head of the Parliamentary Commission for Public Services, Local Administration and Media
Ms. Natasa Micic (Serbia), President, Civil Alliance of Serbia
Ms. Sonja Biserko ( Serbia ), Director, Helsinki Commitee for Human Rights
Ms. Teuta Sahatqija (Kosovo), Vice President of the ORA (political party) Chief of the parliamentarian group of ORA.
Ms Gordana Kasic (Croatia) Coordinator, Women’s Studies Center
Ms. Igballe Rogova (Kosovo), Executive Director of Kosova Women’s Network, member of the Kosova Women’s Lobby, member of the Women’s Peace Coalition
Ms. Luleta Vuniqi (Kosovo) Executive Director of Kosovar Gender Studies Center
Member of Kosova Women’s Lobby, member of the Women’s Peace Coalition
Ms. Stasa Zajovic (Serbia) Coordinator Women in Black Network, member of Women’s Peace
Ms. Vera Markovic (Serbia) Vice-President of the Social Democrat Union
Ms. Marieta Zaqe (Albania) Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Social Welfare and Equal Opportunities
Dr. Maja Kostic-Mandic, (Montenegro), Member of Parliament
Ms. Memnuna Zvizdic (Bosnia and Herzegovina) Director Zene Zenama
Ms. Irina Pockova (Macedonia) President of Women’s Chapter, Social Democratic
Alliance political party in Sv.Nikolla
