Warning: some listeners may find this content highly disturbing. Following the testimony of Witness J on 27 Jan. 1997, the indictment against Jean-Paul Akayesu was amended to include rape and sexual violence as crimes against humanity. This led to the ICTR setting an important precedent in international criminal law by finding that rape can constitute genocide.

Edited excerpt from ICTR audio archives: Witness J's testimony in Akayesu Trial (disturbing content)

The Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals was established by the United Nations Security Council on 22 December 2010 to carry out a number of essential functions of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) and the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) after the completion of their respective mandates. More information on the website of the Mechanism: www.unmict.org.

UNMICT