News Release

Rights & Democracy joins effort to see Karadzic charged with sexual crimes

MONTREAL ? Sep. 3, 2008 ?The Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), Serge Brammertz, is expected to file shortly an amended indictment, last revised in 2000, in the case of the former leader and commander of the Bosnian Serbs, Radovan Karadzic.

Canada?s International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development, commonly known as Rights & Democracy, and the Coalition for Women?s Human Rights in Conflict Situations joined women, survivors and human rights groups in the former Yugoslavia, the U.S., and around the world, in a joint letter to the Chief Prosecutor urging that the amended indictment include charges of rape and other forms of sexual violence perpetrated against women by Bosnian Serb forces under Karadzic?s command.

?This case is of historic significance for women in Bosnia, the former Yugoslavia and victims of sexual violence crimes in conflict situations around the world who deserve justice and reparation. Karadzic must be held accountable. His indictment and the possible ruling on such crimes would set an important precedent,? said Isabelle Solon-Helal, Programme Officer at Rights & Democracy and Coordinator of the international Coalition.

Funded and coordinated by Rights & Democracy, the Coalition for Women's Rights in Conflict Situations was established in 1996 to address the abuse of women's rights in conflict situations, to condemn the practice of rape and other forms of sexual violence against women as deliberate tactics of war, and to ensure, where appropriate, that these practices are prosecuted as war crimes, crimes against humanity and crimes of genocide.