| Press Release | TRIBUNAL |
(Exclusively for the use of the media. Not an official document)
CS/PR1524e
Tribunal launches Albanian translation of ICTY Manual on Developed Practices in Kosovo
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Today the Tribunal presented the Albanian translation of the ICTY Manual on Developed Practices to the public during a promotional event in Pristina, Kosovo.
The Manual is the first publication that provides a comprehensive description of the operating practices developed at the ICTY since its establishment. It is aimed at supporting domestic judiciaries, particularly those in the region of the former Yugoslavia, in the prosecution of international crimes. The Manual covers the full scope of the Tribunal’s work, ranging from investigations to the enforcement of sentences, while also discussing judgement drafting, management of the Detention Unit and legal aid policies, as well as a range of other judicial support issues.
The launch, which was organized by the Tribunal’s Outreach Programme, was opened by H.E. Krystyna Marty Lang, the Swiss Ambassador to Kosovo, after which Head of ICTY Chambers Ms Catherine Marchi-Uhel presented the Manual to around 40 guests consisting of representatives of Kosovo judiciary, government, academia and civil society.
Speaking of the significance of the Manual, Catherine Marchi-Uhel, said: “By making these [operating] practices available to domestic and other international courts, the ICTY is sharing the lessons it learned in fulfilling its mandate and aims at assisting these other courts in handling their part of the fight against impunity for international crimes in the Balkan Region (…)”.
The Manual was also praised by experts from Kosovo. Mr Ladvim Krasniqi Director of Kosovo Judicial Institute stressed the importance of the publication for the Kosovo judiciary, stating the Manual “will be a valuable asset and contribute to raising the level of investigation and trial in war crimes cases”. Mr Bekim Blakaj, Executive Director of Humanitarian Law Centre further underscored the crucial role of the Tribunal’s and local judiciary’s efforts in fighting impunity as “additional mechanisms that significantly assist a society to deal with the past and to have a better future”.
The Manual was produced by the ICTY in cooperation with the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), and is also available in English, and Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian. The translation of the publication into Albanian was made possible through the generous donation of the Swiss government. The launch of the publication was funded by the European Union, a project partner and a supporter of the Tribunal’s Outreach Program.
Hard copies of the Manual were available to the participants of the launch event, and will be further distributed to members of the judiciary in Kosovo. The electronic version can also be found on the Tribunal’s website.
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International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
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