Justice For All Welcomes Italian Investigation into “Sarajevo Safari” War Crimes – Justice For All

Report on Atrocity Accountability and Sustainable Development Goal 16

Introduction: Investigation into “Sarajevo Safari” Allegations

An official investigation has been initiated by the Milan prosecutor’s office in Italy concerning allegations of “sniper tourism” during the Siege of Sarajevo. The human rights organization Justice For All has issued a statement responding to this development. The investigation centers on claims that foreign nationals paid the Army of Republika Srpska for opportunities to shoot unarmed Bosnian civilians. These actions represent a profound violation of international law and a direct assault on the principles of Sustainable Development Goal 16 (SDG 16), which aims to promote peaceful and inclusive societies, provide access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable institutions.

Challenges to SDG 16: Impunity and the Rule of Law

The failure to hold perpetrators accountable for war crimes committed during the Siege of Sarajevo undermines key targets of SDG 16, particularly Target 16.3, which calls for promoting the rule of law and ensuring equal access to justice.

• Lack of Accountability: To date, no individual sniper has been held personally responsible for the targeting of civilians, which resulted in over 11,000 deaths in Sarajevo.
• Unresolved Cases: Over 3,200 war crimes cases in Bosnia remain unresolved, creating a persistent justice gap.
• Erosion of Institutions: Imam Saffet Catovic, Director of UN Operations for Justice For All, stated that the failure to act on these allegations three decades ago “created a blueprint for genocide denial.” This long-standing impunity weakens judicial institutions and erodes public trust, hindering progress toward building the strong institutions central to SDG 16.

Violation of Human Dignity and SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

The alleged “Sarajevo Safari” exemplifies the extreme dehumanization of a targeted population, a practice that fundamentally opposes SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). Reports of a “price list” that charged higher fees for shooting children highlight a grotesque commodification of human life and an attack on the most vulnerable.

Imam Abdul Malik Mujahid, President of Justice For All, described the allegations as “the ultimate expression of the dehumanization of victims that fuels genocide.” Such acts create and perpetuate deep-seated inequalities and societal divisions, directly contravening the goal of fostering inclusive societies where the rights and dignity of all individuals are protected.

Recommendations for Upholding International Justice and the SDGs

In response to these developments, Justice For All has outlined key actions required to advance international justice and reinforce the global commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals. These recommendations are aligned with achieving SDG 16 and fostering global partnerships for peace (SDG 17).

1. Comprehensive and Transparent Investigation: A full investigation by Italian and Bosnian authorities is necessary to identify and prosecute all perpetrators and enablers. This action is critical for fulfilling Target 16.3 by ensuring access to justice for victims and upholding the rule of law.
2. Renewed Commitment to Ending Impunity: The international community must renew its commitment to prosecuting war crimes and genocide. Ending the culture of impunity is essential for preventing the recurrence of such atrocities and achieving Target 16.1, which aims to significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

   The article primarily addresses issues related to SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. It also touches upon aspects of SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities.

   • SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

     This is the most relevant SDG as the entire article focuses on the failure of justice systems to hold perpetrators accountable for war crimes and atrocities committed during the Siege of Sarajevo. The call for a “full, transparent investigation,” the prosecution of war crimes, and an end to the “culture of impunity” directly aligns with the goal of building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels.

   • SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

     The article highlights the “ultimate expression of the dehumanization of victims,” where Bosnian civilians were targeted in a “human safari.” This systematic targeting of a specific group of people based on their identity is an extreme form of inequality and discrimination. The call for justice is also a call to affirm the equal value and rights of all people, thereby addressing the core principles of reducing inequalities.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

   Several specific targets under SDG 16 and SDG 10 are clearly identifiable from the article’s content.

   • SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

     • Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere. The article directly references this target by discussing the atrocities of the Siege of Sarajevo, which “claimed over 11,000 lives in Sarajevo alone.” The call to end impunity is aimed at preventing such violence from recurring.
     • Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all. This is the central theme of the article. The demand for Italian and Bosnian prosecutors to bring perpetrators “to justice” and the reference to the failure of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) to act previously underscore the need to strengthen the rule of law and provide justice for victims.
     • Target 16.a: Strengthen relevant national institutions, including through international cooperation, to build capacity… to prevent violence and combat… crime. The call for a joint investigation by “Italian and Bosnian prosecutors” is a direct example of the international cooperation needed to strengthen institutional capacity to prosecute complex international crimes like war crimes.

   • SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

     • Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory… practices. The impunity enjoyed by snipers who targeted Bosnian civilians represents a profound inequality in the justice system. The article notes that “not a single sniper has been held personally accountable,” highlighting a failure to ensure that justice is applied equally, regardless of the victims’ identity. The “dehumanization” mentioned is the root of this discriminatory practice.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

   Yes, the article contains both explicit data and implicit measures that can serve as indicators for the identified targets.

   • Indicators for SDG 16

     • For Target 16.1: The article provides a direct measure related to Indicator 16.1.2 (Conflict-related deaths per 100,000 population) by stating that the siege “claimed over 11,000 lives in Sarajevo alone.” It also implies an age-disaggregated measure by noting the existence of a “price list” that charged “higher fees for shooting children.”
     • For Target 16.3: The article implies a key performance indicator for justice systems: the number or proportion of crimes that are successfully prosecuted. It states that “not a single sniper has been held personally accountable” and that “Over 3,200 war crimes cases in Bosnia remain unresolved.” These figures serve as direct, negative indicators of progress towards ensuring access to justice and the rule of law, reflecting a failure to achieve Indicator 16.3.1 (Proportion of victims of violence… who reported their victimization to competent authorities) leading to a just outcome.

   • Indicators for SDG 10

     • For Target 10.3: While not a formal statistical indicator, the article provides powerful qualitative evidence related to discrimination. The description of a “‘human safari’ or ‘sniper tourism'” where foreigners paid to “shoot unarmed Bosnian civilians” is a stark indicator of extreme discrimination and dehumanization, which is a root cause of the inequality of outcome in justice that Indicator 10.3.1 (Proportion of population reporting having personally felt discriminated against) seeks to measure. The failure to prosecute these acts reinforces this discrimination.

4. SDGs, Targets and Indicators Identified in the Article

   SDGs	Targets	Indicators
   SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions	16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere. 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all. 16.a: Strengthen relevant national institutions, including through international cooperation.	Explicit Data (related to Indicator 16.1.2): “over 11,000 lives” lost in Sarajevo; specific targeting of children. Implied Indicator: Number of unresolved war crimes cases (stated as “Over 3,200”). Implied Indicator: Proportion of perpetrators held accountable (stated as “not a single sniper has been held personally accountable”). Explicit Mention: Call for cooperation between “Italian and Bosnian prosecutors.”
   SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities	10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory… practices.	Qualitative Evidence (related to Indicator 10.3.1): The practice of “‘human safari’ or ‘sniper tourism'” targeting a specific population (“unarmed Bosnian civilians”) as an extreme form of discrimination and dehumanization. The impunity for these acts demonstrates a profound inequality of outcome in the justice system.

Source: justiceforall.org