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Serbia Asks UN Security Council to Take Over Functions of Hague Mechanism
๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡ธ Serbia /Crime & Justice

Serbia Asks UN Security Council to Take Over Functions of Hague Mechanism

From N1 Serbia · () Serbian

Translated from Serbian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Serbia requested the UN Security Council to transfer remaining functions of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (MICT) to national levels.
  • Serbia also called for a clearer deadline for the mechanism's closure and for sentences to be served in individual countries.
  • The request was made during a Security Council session discussing the MICT's six-month report, with Serbia emphasizing its commitment to international justice while advocating for legal certainty and human rights.

Serbia has urged the UN Security Council to expedite the transfer of remaining functions from the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (MICT) to national jurisdictions. During a session reviewing the MICT's latest six-month report, Serbia's representatives called for a defined timeline for the mechanism's closure and proposed that sentences handed down by international courts could be served within individual states.

all objectives of international justice must be pursued with full respect for legal certainty, equality before the law, fair procedure and fundamental human rights.

โ€” Serbian Ministry of JusticeStated during the UN Security Council session regarding the MICT's operations.

The Serbian Ministry of Justice stated that the country is dedicated to international criminal justice and accountability for war crimes. However, it stressed that all objectives of international justice must be pursued with full respect for legal certainty, equality before the law, fair trial principles, and fundamental human rights. Serbia highlighted that its requests are not aimed at seeking special treatment for any individual but rather at ensuring international justice is simultaneously fair, effective, and humane.

Such requests do not represent an attempt to review final verdicts, but rather a matter of consistent application of internationally recognized humanitarian and legal standards.

โ€” Serbian Ministry of JusticeExplaining the nature of humanitarian requests related to convicted individuals.

As an illustration of the broader issue of consistently applying humanitarian standards, Serbia referenced past requests based solely on medical and humanitarian grounds, including one concerning General Ratko Mladiฤ‡. The ministry clarified that such requests do not challenge final verdicts but pertain to the consistent application of internationally recognized humanitarian and legal standards. Serbia believes that states whose convicted nationals are prepared and capable of providing necessary guarantees can contribute to the effective and humane execution of international criminal sanctions, fully respecting the authority of international judicial institutions.

international justice will be stronger if it is at the same time fair, effective and humane.

โ€” Serbia's representativesArticulated during the UN Security Council session.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by N1 Serbia in Serbian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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