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Sierra Leone 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 Printer friendly version 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 Also available in 
Printer friendly version 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 Printer friendly version 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 Printer friendly version 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 Printer friendly version 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 Printer friendly version 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 Printer friendly version 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 Printer friendly version 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 Printer friendly version 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 Printer friendly version 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 Printer friendly version 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 Also available in
Printer friendly version 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 Printer friendly version 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 Printer friendly version 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 Printer friendly version 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 Printer friendly version 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 Also available in
Printer friendly version 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 Printer friendly version |
   Human Rights Watch: In the Field in Sierra Leone Streaming Video, May 2000
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