Recognition of the ICRC's long-standing rule of confidentiality - An important decision by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia - International Review of the Red Cross, No. 838

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Author(s)
Jeannet, S.
Publication language
English
Pages
14pp
Date published
30 Jun 2000
Type
Articles
Keywords
Development & humanitarian aid, International law, Principles & ethics
Countries
The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

" ... the Trial Chamber came to the conclusion that customary international law provides the ICRC with an absolute right to nondisclosure of information relating to the work of the ICRC... " . This is how the press release issued by the International Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) on 8 October 1999 announced the important decision taken on 27 July 1999 by Trial Chamber III to the effect that the ICRC need not testify before the Tribunal. This article is a short, non-exhaustive presentation of some issues raised by this case, and of the importance of the decision for the continued work of the International Committee of the Red Cross.