Sierra Leone: War Crimes Ruling Bolsters Victim Protection
Reason for Fighting Cannot Reduce Penalties
The decision by Sierra Leone’s war crimes court to reject sentence reductions for two convicted militia members because they fought for a “legitimate cause” is crucial in ensuring justice for all victims of human rights violations, Human Rights Watch said today.
May 28, 2008 Press Release
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Coercion and Intimidation of Child Soldiers to Participate in Violence
Child soldiers are often compelled by their commanders to engage in combat operations, participate in human rights abuses against civilians, and carry out punishments against fellow soldiers under threat of severe punishment or execution. In this backgrounder, Human Rights Watch describes methods of coercion and intimidation used against child soldiers serving in armed conflicts in Angola, Burma, Colombia, Liberia, Nepal, Sierra Leone, and Uganda.
April 16, 2008 Background Briefing
Political Considerations in Sentence Mitigation for Serious Violations of the Laws of War before International Criminal Tribunals
Human Rights Watch Memorandum
On March 12 and 13, the Appeals Chamber of the Special Court for Sierra Leone will hold hearings on appeals against the convictions and sentencing of Moinina Fofana and Allieu Kondewa. These individuals were convicted on several counts of serious violations of international humanitarian law in connection with acts that they had committed, or had been responsible for, while members of the government-backed Civil Defence Forces (CDF) during Sierra Leone’s decade-long conflict. The upcoming hearings will raise a very important issue for the enforcement of international humanitarian law: whether applicable international legal standards allow factors such as political motivations and the party to the conflict for which a perpetrator fought to serve as a basis for mitigation in sentencing.
March 11, 2008 Memorandum
Letter to the Secretary General of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference
Urging the Organisation to Improve and Strengthen the 1999 OIC Convention on Combating International Terrorism
Human Rights Watch writes to urge Dr. Ihsanoglu to use his position as Secretary General of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference to support measures at the upcoming Summit of the Organisation of Islamic Conference in Dakar, Senegal on March 13-14 that would improve and strengthen the 1999 OIC Convention on Combating International Terrorism. In particular, we urge the OIC to consider two amendments to the Convention in order to narrow its overbroad definition of terrorism and to make absolutely clear that there is no sanction in Islam for deliberately attacking civilians, whatever the circumstances or justifications.
March 11, 2008 Letter
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Statement by Richard Dicker to the Sixth Session of the Assembly of States Parties
The ICC has made important strides in the past year. It has issued arrest warrants for alleged perpetrators of grave crimes in three country situations. It has opened a fourth investigation in the Central African Republic and has started preparing for its first trial, which will begin in the spring of 2008. Through its field offices in four countries, there has been important progress in enhancing the court’s presence on the ground. We have also seen important developments in case law emanating from the pre-trial chambers.
December 7, 2007 Oral Statement
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UN: ICC Needs Backing to Bring Justice for War Crimes
Secretary-General to Address ICC Meeting at UN Headquarters
The United Nations secretariat and the 105 states that have joined the International Criminal Court should step up support for the court so that it can bring justice for war crimes, Human Rights Watch said today as the ICC opens its annual meeting in New York.
November 30, 2007 Press Release
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Letter to H.E. Ernest Bai Koroma of Sierra Leone
Recommendations following the Presidential elections of 2007
Recommendations following the Presidential elections of 2007
November 13, 2007 Letter
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Sierra Leone: New Leader Must Combat Injustice, Corruption
President Koroma Should Adopt and Implement a Concrete Human Rights Agenda
Sierra Leone’s new president, Ernest Bai Koroma, should urgently address pressing human rights concerns in Sierra Leone, particularly striking deficiencies in the judicial system and ongoing corruption, Human Rights Watch said today in a letter to the president on the eve of his inauguration.
November 13, 2007 Press Release
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UN: Summit on Africa Should Not Overlook Justice
United Nations Security Council leaders meeting today to discuss peace and security in Africa should not leave justice off the agenda, Human Rights Watch said. French President Nicolas Sarkozy is chairing the meeting this afternoon in New York.
September 25, 2007 Press Release
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In War-Crimes Trial, A Signal to Africans
Response to an editorial in The New York Times
Published in The New York Times
The challenges judges need to rise to in trying war-crimes cases fairly and efficiently were evident at the opening of the trial of Charles Taylor, the former president of Liberia, which I observed for Human Rights Watch. But the significance of a trial of a former head of state associated with horrendous crimes shouldn't be obscured because the proceedings didn't open without a hitch.
July 18, 2007 Commentary
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Audio: The Trial of Charles Taylor By The Special Court For Sierra Leone
"All too often, there has been no justice for victims of serious human rights violations. Taylor’s trial puts would-be perpetrators on notice. " -- Elise Keppler, Counsel with Human Rights Watch’s International Justice Program speaks on the historic trial of former Liberian president, Charles Taylor, for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
July 3, 2007 Audio Clip
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Sierra Leone: Landmark Convictions for Use of Child Soldiers
The war crimes court for Sierra Leone has handed down the first convictions by a UN-backed tribunal for the crime of recruiting and using child soldiers. Human Rights Watch said that these convictions are a ground-breaking step toward ending impunity for commanders who exploit hundreds of thousands of children as soldiers in conflicts worldwide.
June 20, 2007 Press Release
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Questions and Answers on Charles Taylor's Trial Before the Special Court for Sierra Leone
Questions and answers about the court, charges and location of Charles Taylor's trial at the Special Court for Sierra Leone.
May 31, 2007 Questions and Answers
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Charles Taylor: Liberian Ex-President Goes on Trial
Landmark Step in Bringing Justice for Human Rights Violations
The trial beginning June 4 of former Liberian President Charles Taylor for war crimes committed during Sierra Leone’s 11-year brutal armed conflict sends a strong signal that no one is above the law, Human Rights Watch said today. Taylor’s trial by the UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone will provide an important chance for victims to see justice done.
May 31, 2007 Press Release
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US: Justice Dept. Brings First Charges for Torture Abroad
Ex-Liberian President’s Son Indicted for Torture in Liberia
The US Department of Justice today took a major step against impunity for atrocities in bringing its first-ever criminal charges for torture committed outside the United States, Human Rights Watch said today.
December 6, 2006 Press Release
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Charles Taylor: Hague Trial Must Be Accessible to West Africans
Former Liberian President Arrives in the Netherlands for War Crimes Trial
With the transfer of Charles Taylor to The Hague for trial, the U.N.-backed war crimes court for Sierra Leone and its donors must ensure that the former Liberian president’s trial remains accessible to the people of West Africa, Human Rights Watch said today in a briefing paper.
June 20, 2006 Press Release
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Taylor Trial: U.K. Removes a Key Obstacle
Court, Donors Must Make a Hague Trial Accessible to West Africans
The British government’s decision today to offer detention facilities for Charles Taylor if he is convicted removes the main obstacle to relocating the former Liberian president’s trial to The Hague, Human Rights Watch said today
June 15, 2006 Press Release
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Why is the EU Turning its Back on West Africa?
By Elise Keppler, Counsel, International Justice Program
Published in European Voice
As the transfer of Liberia's former president to face trial in The Hague remains stalled, the EU ministerial meeting this week with the Economic Community of West African States could not be more timely.
May 24, 2006 Commentary
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EU: Foreign Ministers Should Resolve Taylor Issue
When European Union foreign ministers meet in Brussels on May 15, an EU member state should offer to take former Liberian president Charles Taylor if he is convicted by the Special Court for Sierra Leone, Human Rights Watch said today.
May 11, 2006 Press Release
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Taylor Trial: A Third Country Must Step Forward
The transfer of former Liberian President Charles Taylor to face trial in The Hague remains stalled unless a third country steps up to take Taylor if he is convicted, Human Rights Watch said today.
April 27, 2006 Press Release
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