A War on Trial

PBS: Monday 15 – Tuesday 16 May at 20.35

In a unique experiment in the history of justice, The International Criminal Tribunal For The Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) saw, for the first time, war criminals from all sides of a conflict tried before an independent, international court.

Many were found guilty and sentenced, and the Srebrenica genocide was brought to light. Yet, three decades on, the legacy of these proceedings remains controversial, with the hoped-for reconciliation still out of reach.

Drawing upon testimonies of prosecutors, defendants and victims, and with the benefit of full access to the Tribunal’s monumental archive, this two-part documentary tells the story of the ICTY, examines its impact, and asks to what degree it might serve as a template for future bids to obtain international justice.