The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) was established on 25 May 1993 by resolution 827 of the United Nations Security Council. The resolution was passed in response to the threat to international peace and security constituted by mass killings, ethnic cleansing and other serious violations of international humanitarian law that were occurring in the territory of the former Yugoslavia, especially in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The mandate of the ICTY is to prosecute and try persons suspected to be responsible for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide committed in the territory of the former Yugoslavia since 1991. It is hoped that the work of the ICTY will contribute to the restoration of peace by bringing a sense of justice to victims, by preventing revisionism, and by deterring commission of further violations of international humanitarian law.

ICTY presence in Bosnia and Herzegovina
The offices of the ICTY in Bosnia and Herzegovina house staff from two separate organs of the Tribunal: firstly, the Office of the Prosecutor, and secondly, Registry of the ICTY. The offices have the following functions:
• Liaise with state authorities and international agencies on questions of cooperation with the ICTY and all other relevant matters
• Act as a contact point for victims, potential witnesses as well as other individuals and organisations that wish to provide information to the Tribunal
• Serve as a logistical base for ICTY staff on mission, providing them with office space, vehicles, communications and language assistance
• Facilitate the transfer of know-how, cases and evidence to the War Crimes Chamber at the Court of BiH and other national courts in Bosnia and Herzegovina dealing with war crimes
• Make the Tribunal's work accessible and understandable to individuals and groups interested in the work of the ICTY, including non-governmental organisations, victim associations, academic institutions, legal professionals and others
• Act as a local public information office of the Tribunal’s Chambers and Registry, answering queries, giving interviews and providing other assistance to the media. For queries, please call the Sarajevo Field Office at tel. [+387 (0)33] 773-219 or 773-218.