How did the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia prosecute war crimes from the Bosnian War?

The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) was established by the United Nations Security Council in May 1993 to prosecute serious violations of international humanitarian law committed during the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia.12

The tribunal operated from The Hague and held jurisdiction over four primary categories of crime: grave breaches of the Geneva conventions, violations of the laws or customs of war, genocide, and crimes against humanity. It was notable for being among the first international bodies to formally recognize sexual violence, such as rape, as a war crime.1

Key aspects of its prosecution process included:
* Individual Accountability: The ICTY did not recognize official positions, including those of heads of state, as a basis for immunity. This led to the indictment and trial of high-ranking figures like Slobodan Milošević, Radovan Karadžić, and Ratko Mladić.123
* Command Responsibility: Military and civilian leaders could be held liable for crimes committed by their subordinates if they knew or should have known about them.1
* Scope: Over its 24-year mandate, the ICTY indicted 161 individuals from all ethnic and national groups involved in the conflict.23