10/10/2012
The survivors of the genocide need expiation and justice: The European Human Rights court should reconsider the UN’s immunity in the case of Srebrenica
HUMAN RIGHTS INITIATIVE: The mothers from Srebrenica want to hold the UN accountable – 170 Bosnian women are expected in Strasbourg
The Society for Threatened Peoples (SFTP) supports the „Mothers of Srebrenica“ who intend on lodging a complaint against the Dutch Supreme Court’s ruling on the immunity of the UN with the European Court of Human Rights this Thursday in Strasbourg.
„Since the ruling of the Dutch Supreme Court (Hoge Raad), the UN and its Blue Helmet cannot be brought in front of justice in cases of obvious misconduct – meanwhile, Srebrenica is calling for expiation and justice”, criticized the SFTP’s General Secretary, Tilman Zülch. „In addition to the pain caused by the loss of their relatives, the survivors of the massacre are also haunted by the inconceivable disappointment to be abandoned by the entire world and left at the mercy of murderers. The people in Srebrenica let themselves be disarmed by the Blue Helmets and put their lives in the hands of the UN’s protection forces. It is inacceptable that they be so disappointed and that, as such, the perpetrators be emboldened to repeat crimes anytime.” The Dutch Supreme Court decided on April 13th, 2012 in The Hague that the UN itself would be granted full immunity in the case of Srebrenica. Around 6,000 surviving dependents of the 8,327 victims of the massacre in the UN safe area of Srebrenica, in which Serbian troops marched without resistance from the UN on July 11th, 1995, has filed suits against the UN and the Netherlands. With such a ruling, however, both the UN and the Netherlands will be discharged from any responsibility in the massacre of Bosniak boys and men as well as of a few hundred women.
A delegation of 170 “Mothers of Srebrenica” is on its way to Strasbourg by bus. They will explain with their lawyers, Dr. Axel Hagedorn and Marco R. Gerritsen, their motives at a press conference to which you and your team are cordially invited:
PRESS CONFERENCE on Thursday, October 11th 2012 at 11:00 in front of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.
A summary of the most important judicial arguments can be sent by the lawyers upon request at (tel) + 31 (0)20 5747452 or (fax) + 31 (0)20 5747475, www.vandiepen.com.
