United Nations July 24: The UN special adviser on the prevention of genocide, Alice WairimuNderitu, on Friday acknowledged the introduction of amendments to the criminal code of Bosnia-Herzegovina, sanctioning the glorification of war criminals and the denial of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
"Denial of genocide, war crimes or crimes against humanity, as well as glorification of those who have committed such crimes, simultaneously feeds on and strengthens contested narratives about the past, the present and the future," said Nderitu in a statement.
"It turns perpetrators and war criminals into heroes. It sows fear, mistrust and hate. It divides people, communities and states. It does not allow for healing and empathy. It also undermines the judicial decisions that have been made and therefore undermines justice. This is to the contrary of what societies which have experienced conflict and have a legacy of atrocity crimes require. It is unacceptable and must be condemned."
Likewise, it is essential to avoid attribution of collective guilt, she said.
"Crimes are committed by individuals, not by societies or communities. This is why criminal accountability and court adjudication of criminal allegations is so important. Working for individual accountability and countering allegations of collective guilt are parallel processes on the road towards healing and trust-building in post-conflict societies," said the special adviser.
She also praised efforts aimed at overcoming divisions under the leadership of local officials and grassroots organizations. She called on all those in positions of responsibility at the state level to do their part in working together to promote an agenda based on the prioritization of such healing and trust-building needs.
"Political, religious and community leaders, educators as well as the media have a responsibility to lead the way towards constructive dialogue based on trust, respect and dignity," she said.
Source: Xinhua
