The Yugoslav War Crimes Tribunal, officially known as the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), was established by the United Nations in 1993. Its primary purpose was to prosecute serious crimes committed during the Yugoslav Wars, which took place in the 1990s. The tribunal aimed to address war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity, promoting accountability and justice in the region. The ICTY operated in The Hague, Netherlands, and concluded its work in 2017. It was significant for being one of the first international courts to hold individuals accountable for war crimes, including high-ranking officials. The tribunal's legacy includes the establishment of legal precedents for international law and the promotion of human rights.