Known as Europe's deadliest conflict since World War II, the Yugoslav Wars (also known as the Yugoslav Wars of Succession, Yugoslav Civil War or War in the Balkans) are a series of wars fought in the former Yugoslavia in the early 1990s. Although the entire conflict can be divided into four separate wars, they are linked due to their origin common and the presence of the same ethno-religious groups in the multiple wars. These wars became notorious due to the atrocious war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by all sides. To better understand the atrocities of these wars, you need to know the definitions of certain terms and war crimes. The ideas of “ethnic cleansing” and “genocide” are often mentioned in connection with the Yugoslav wars, as are the terms “war criminals” and “crimes against humanity”. Ethnic cleansing can be described as an “organized campaign aimed at forcibly transferring a population from an area.” This can be planned and/or ordered by a government for various reasons and consists of threats, individual killings, group violence, arrests, torture, rape and arson; all leading to spontaneous evacuations, forced migration or deportation of the target group. Genocide is generally considered the most serious stage of ethnic cleansing, with the key factor in establishing genocide being intent. The intended complete destruction of a group is necessary for an event to be considered genocide. The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court defines crime against humanity as a serious offense committed as part of a widespread and/or systematic attack directed against a certain group of persons and which may include (but is not limited to) ) murder, extermination, ensla...... middle of paper ......g and was an afterthought in the Nuremberg trials). ICTY Chief Prosecutor Carla del Ponte called the prosecution of Milošević “…arguably the most important trial ever held against a political leader and head of state.” According to the indictment he faces, the defendant is...the principal cause of much of the crime, tragedy and misery occasioned by the three wars.” It is widely believed that Milošević would have spent the rest of his life behind bars. But even without such a landmark case reaching its full potential, it is safe to say that the ICTY is nonetheless an impressive institution and has marked the beginning of a new era of international law and prosecution that is vital in the society today. It has brought many war criminals to justice and, hopefully, can restore a sense of justice to a war-torn region and help sow the seeds of peace..