1 Overview: The Challenge of Accountability for Conflict-related Sexual Violence Crimes

Subject(s):

Right to fair trial — Rape and sexual violence

This introductory chapter examines the work of the Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY), which has had to grapple with the challenge of establishing accountability for sexual violence crimes committed during conflicts in the former Yugoslavia. The OTP aims to develop a more accurate and comprehensive understanding of the nature of conflict-related sexual violence and its impact on victims; interpret provisions of international criminal law in a more accurate light that better reflects the experiences of both women and men, girls and boys; and appropriately prioritize accountability for sexual violence crimes amid the other pressing demands of a nascent prosecution office facing significant threats to the successful commencement—let alone completion—of its mandate.