Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 9 March (HL5861), how many years elapsed between the atrocities committed by Ratko Mladić and his conviction; and what assessment they have made of the options for introducing more expeditious and timely ways of bring to justice those who perpetrate genocide or crimes against humanity.

After 16 years as a fugitive from justice, Ratko Mladić was arrested in May 2011 for crimes committed in Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1992 until 1995. His trial commenced a year later and considered testimony from almost 600 witnesses and just under 10,000 exhibits. He was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for genocide, crimes against humanity and violations of the laws or customs of war in November 2017, six and a half years after his arrest. We agree that justice should be dispensed as expeditiously as possible while ensuring defendants' receive a fair trial. The UK participates in regular meetings of the Security Council's Informal Working Group on International Tribunals, which deals with a range of issues relating to the functioning of the UN Tribunals, including considering evaluation reports, exchanging views with Tribunal Principals and reviewing potential efficiencies in the operation of the Tribunals.