On Saturday, 8 May 2004, The Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Republika Srpska and the Outreach Programme of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) held a conference in Brcko, Bosnia and Herzegovina, entitled "Bridging the Gap Between the ICTY and Communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina – ICTY cases in relation to war crimes committed in Brcko”.

The conference provided more than 100 members of the local community, including victims’ associations, representatives of governmental and non-governmental institutions, legal and law enforcement agencies and others with presentations on the Tribunal’s work in relation to crimes under its jurisdiction with immediate relevance to the community.

During the one-day conference, senior ICTY officials described the investigations conducted in relevant cases, outlined the strategy of the Office of the Prosecutor and the evidence presented during trials, as well as the facts established and factors considered in determining the sentences.

The conference is the first in a series of similar events intended to take place across Bosnia and Herzegovina during 2004 in communities most affected by the crimes that fall under the Tribunal’s jurisdiction.

The event was supported by the United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Office.