An interview study of prosecution witnesses who have testified before the ICTY

Estudio basado en entrevistas a testigos en procesos penales que habían dado su testimonio ante el ICTY

Since the establishment of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in 1993, over 1,000 witnesses have testified in the tribunal's chambers in The Hague. Of these, the overwhelming majority has appeared as witnesses for the Office of the Prosecution. In early 2001, the Communities in Crisis Project began an interview survey of witnesses with the aim of examining the meaning witnesses attribute to the notion of justice and accountability in the aftermath of war and mass violence; reactions of witnesses to being participants in an international criminal tribunal in a foreign country; and how testifying has affected the ability of witnesses to re-integrate into their communities.

The study design uses qualitative methods based upon semi-structured, open-ended interview questions. It is hoped that the study will provide the ad hoc criminal tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda and jurists now drafting the rules and procedures for the International Criminal Court (ICC) with insights on how they can better meet the needs of witnesses called to testify before international tribunals.