Liberia: Video Appeal for War Crimes Court

(Monrovia, May 14, 2019) – Liberian citizens called on President George Weah in a video released today by an array of local and international groups to support a war crimes court to bring justice for atrocities committed during Liberia’s civil wars. On May 15, 2019, Liberia’s Independent National Human Rights Commission will hold a conference to assess progress on the recommendations made by Liberia’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which operated between 2006 and 2009, recommended creating a war crimes court – the Extraordinary Criminal Court for Liberia – to try those responsible for grave crimes committed during Liberia’s armed conflicts from 1986-96 and 1999-2003. That recommendation has never been carried out, and no one implicated in abuses has been prosecuted in Liberian courts.