Do witnesses get paid for their testimony?
Witnesses only receive compensation from the Tribunal to cover their expenses while they are in The Hague. One is called a “daily allowance” and the other is called the “attendance allowance”. The payment of the daily allowance is to cover incidental expenses a witness incurs while in The Hague. The attendance allowance is paid for the duration of travel and stay in The Hague and the amount paid is set at the rate of a minimum United Nations salary in the country where the witness resides. This allowance is designed to compensate the witness for any lost wages, economic loss and the expenses at home for the time the witness is away. If a witness considers that the attendance allowance is not sufficient to cover losses and suffers undue economic hardship, he or she can apply to the Tribunal for an “exceptional loss” claim. It is the Registrar who will decide if the witness is entitled to additional payment.
