Representatives of prosecutorial institutions from Bosnia and Herzegovina participated in the Regional Conference of Prosecutors on Cooperation in War Crimes Prosecution, organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on Brijuni, Croatia, from 2 to 4 September, with financial support from the European Union and the Government of the United Kingdom.

The event was organized in cooperation with the State Attorney’s Office of the Republic of Croatia (DORH), with participation from the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT), and brought together prosecutors from across the region to exchange experiences, identify challenges, and define concrete steps toward a more effective judicial response to crimes committed during the conflicts of the 1990s.

The delegation from Bosnia and Herzegovina included representatives from all relevant prosecutorial institutions, among them Chief Prosecutor of the Prosecutor’s Office of BiH with prosecutors; Chief Federal Prosecutor; Chief Prosecutor from the Republika Srpska Public Prosecutor’s Office with cantonal prosecutors, as well as Prosecutor of the Brčko District. 

Serge Brammertz, Chief Prosecutor of the IRMCT, reflected on the history and tradition of such prosecutorial meetings, which have been held across the region for more than 20 years, emphasizing the importance of judicial outcomes.

“Today we sit here knowing that much work still lies ahead. I do not diminish the progress made, but the number of challenges we continue to face confirms the need for these regional meetings. We all know that in Bosnia and Herzegovina alone, there are around 300 ongoing investigations involving perpetrators who are physically located in neighbouring countries. There are also hundreds of requests for legal assistance and exchange of information between the countries and territories present here, which have remained unexecuted for years,” said Brammertz.

He added that the issue of missing persons remains unresolved, and that it is deeply concerning that the glorification of war criminals continues to be so prevalent in the region after all these years.

Javed Patel, Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to Croatia, emphasized that “there can be no lasting peace without justice,” and that achieving justice for war crimes is essential for victims, the rule of law, and reconciliation in the region. He commended the organization of such meetings and the expansion of regional cooperation among prosecutorial offices, noting that evidence exchange, mutual legal assistance, and case transfers between jurisdictions are fundamental to ensuring justice.

Representing UNDP, Robert Bernardo, Head of Governance and Peacebuilding at the UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub for Eurasia, highlighted that the conflicts in the Western Balkans left deep scars on communities, institutions, and families still seeking justice.

“Despite the progress achieved so far, challenges in war crimes prosecution remain. This has become a race against time – witnesses are aging, and evidence is diminishing. Only genuine cooperation and the building of strong regional relationships between institutions can help bring this process to a successful conclusion,” said Bernardo.

The meeting reaffirmed the importance of continued dialogue and cooperation among judicial institutions in the region, with the support of international partners. UNDP remains committed to supporting regional efforts toward justice, reconciliation, and trust-building among communities.

The event was organized within the framework of the regional project EU Support to Confidence Building in the Western Balkans, funded by the European Union and implemented by UNDP, as well as the project Strengthening Transitional Justice Processes in the Western Balkans, funded by the Government of the United Kingdom and implemented by UNDP.