29.07.2004|Decisions|International Tribunal
IT-95-14-A - Prosecutor v. Blaskic Judgement
The appeals chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia affirmed the conviction of a military commander of, inter-alia, using detainees in his custody as "human shields". It was proven that the appellant ordered to place detainees in front of a hotel which served as his headquarters at the time. The appellant claimed that it was not proven that the prisoners had been put in danger and therefore it was not a case of "human shields." The Court rejected his claim and determined that the purpose of international humanitarian law is to prevent putting people in danger, regardless of the probability of it's materializing. From the website of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
