The rule of law and international criminal justice

Just over two years ago, Slobodan Milosevic died whilst in detention at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague. His death was a disappointment to the many thousands of victims and their families who had been affected by his actions and who were suddenly deprived of the opportunity for finality and a sense of real justice. In this regard, the fact that his trial had continued for over four years and was still some time away from completion at the time of his death certainly did not portray the system on international criminal justice that has evolved over the past fifteen years in its most positive light. Indeed, many were critical of the long drawn-out judicial process involved, with some even arguing that to accord Milosevic with the opportunity to fully defend himself and to guarantee his rights as an accused was a waste of time and the incorrect way to deal with someone who was 'clearly guilty'.