Recognition of the ICRC's long-standing rule of confidentiality - An important decision by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia - International Review of the Red Cross, No. 838

" ... the Trial Chamber came to the conclusion that customary international law provides the ICRC with an absolute right to nondisclosure of information relating to the work of the ICRC... " . This is how the press release issued by the International Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) on 8 October 1999 announced the important decision taken on 27 July 1999 by Trial Chamber III to the effect that the ICRC need not testify before the Tribunal. This article is a short, non-exhaustive presentation of some issues raised by this case, and of the importance of the decision for the continued work of the International Committee of the Red Cross.