Justice in Motion: The Trial Phase of the Special Court for Sierra Leone

HUMAN RIGHTS
WATCH publications FrenchSpanishRussianKoreanArabicHebrewspacer
RSSPortugueseGermanChinesePersianMore Languagesspacer
Home News Releases About HRW Contribute Publications Info by Country
Africa
Americas
Asia
Europe/Central Asia
Middle East/N. Africa
United States

Global Issues
Arms
Business
Children's Rights
Counterterrorism
Economic, Social & Cultural Rights
HIV/AIDS
International Justice
LGBT Rights
Prisons
Refugees
United Nations
Women's Rights
More...

Campaigns Commentary Film Festival Photo Galleries Audio / Video Site Map Contact Us Corrections Permissions RSS
   

 |  index

Acknowledgements

Elise Keppler, counsel for the International Justice program of Human Rights Watch, wrote this report. Elise Keppler and Géraldine Mattioli, advocate for the International Justice program, conducted the interviews upon which the report is based in Freetown in April 2005, and in New York between March and October 2005. Richard Dicker, director of the International Justice program, provided overall guidance and edited the report. Géraldine Mattioli, Corinne Dufka, Human Rights Watch’s West Africa team leader and Sierra Leone/Liberia researcher for the Africa division, Sara Darehshori, senior counsel for the International Justice program, and Param-Preet Singh, counsel for the International Justice program also edited the report. Wilder Tayler, legal and policy director, conducted legal review and Ian Gorvin, consultant in the program office, conducted program review. Intern Daniel Ulmer provided substantial assistance in the research and editing of this report and made drafting contributions in the section on trial management. Interns Carson Beker, Genevieve Painter, Ruth Frolich, and Philipp Meissner also provided helpful research assistance. Hannah Gaertner, associate for the International Justice program, and Andrea Holley, manager of outreach and publications, prepared this report for publication. 

Human Rights Watch is grateful to all the individuals who provided information for this report, particularly staff at the Special Court for Sierra Leone and defense counsel who represent accused at the Special Court, some of whom we interviewed several times. We would also like to thank the members of Sierra Leone civil society, national justice sector staff, independent court monitors, and Sierra Leone citizens around Freetown who took the time to share their thoughts with us. Human Rights Watch would further like to acknowledge the University of California Berkeley War Crimes Studies Center, whose monitoring efforts in relation to the Special Court served as a useful resource for Human Rights Watch.

The International Justice program would like to express appreciation to the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the JEHT Foundation, and Margaret Spanel for their support of our program. We would also like to thank Mr. Allen Adler and the Edward T. Cone Foundation for their contributions to support the program’s work on ensuring surrender of Charles Taylor to face trial at the Special Court for Sierra Leone.




 |  index

November 2005
HRW Logo Contribute to Human Rights Watch

Home | About Us | News Releases | Publications | Info by Country | Global Issues | Campaigns | Community | Bookstore | Film Festival | Search | Site Map | Contact Us | Press Contacts | Privacy Policy

© Copyright 2006, Human Rights Watch    350 Fifth Avenue, 34th Floor    New York, NY 10118-3299    USA

Comments:
This 46-page report evaluates the conduct of the U.N.-backed court for war crimes in Sierra Leone during trials, which began in June 2005.The report details concerns regarding court operations that should be addressed to ensure that the court functions as fairly and effectively as possible. These include disclosure of information identifying protected witnesses in the courtroom, poor performance of defense counsel, and insufficient initiatives to engage the national justice system. Human Rights Watch also identifies accomplishments and makes recommendations for improvement in the Special Court's operations.

This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.