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Last Updated: Jul 24, 2008 - 2:50:22 PM |
Commentaries
Much-Needed First Must Not Also Be a Last: A Review of the Annual Report of the HRC-SL
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Jul 24, 2008 - 2:33:40 PM
The Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone (HRC-SL) released
its first annual report earlier this month, commenting on how human rights have
been observed or violated in this country throughout the period of January 2007
to December 2007. While the first two sections of the report focused on the
background and activities of the HRC-SL itself, the third part, entitled “State
of Human Rights in Sierra Leone,” closely examined the
government’s adherence to its human rights’ commitments along with general
concerns related to various sectors of society and a number of specific
incidents reported by civilians. Part III of the report was extremely
comprehensive and so cannot be summarized in its entirety here.
Commentaries
Balancing the Rights of the Defendants in the RUF Trial
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Jul 17, 2008 - 2:16:57 PM
The use of joint trials by
international tribunals has been protested by defendants and subjected of close examination by legal practitioners,
court monitors and judges alike. However, despite numerous decisions from
international tribunals on both the fairness of joinder and the acceptable
grounds for the severance of trials, difficult questions still arise as to how
to best assure the rights of
the accused once a joint trial has begun. One such question recently became a
subject of heated debate during the RUF trial in Trial Chamber I of the Special Court for Sierra Leone,
as the Gbao defense fought for the chance to present its evidence fully despite
the risk of incriminating co-defendant Morris Kallon in the process. Overall,
the Trial Chamber showed its respect for the importance of ensuring all rights
of each of the accused, treading carefully through multiple days of questioning
and objections to try to find the appropriate balance.
Commentaries
Justice Bankole Thompson's Opinion in the CDF Case: A Summary and Analysis
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Aug 28, 2007 - 3:56:33 PM
On 2 August 2007, the Special Court for Sierra Leone
issued a verdict in the Civil Defence Forces trial. In a majority decision Second
accused Monina Fofana and Third accused Allieu Kondewa were found guilty of four
counts of murder, cruel treatment, pillage and collective punishment. Kondewa
was convicted on an additional count of recruitment of children under 15.
However, Justice Bankole Thompson dissented in a separate and partial opinion. This
essay written by Zoila Hinson summarizes Justice Bankole Thompson’s decision
and also critiques the grounds of his dissenting opinion. For detail of the summary and analysis, please down the document below.
Commentaries
Elections 2007: A Comparison of Party Manifestos Against the Core Recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
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Jul 28, 2007 - 2:05:27 PM
In preparation for
the upcoming elections, the Sierra Leone Court Monitoring Programme (SLCMP) has
conducted a review of the three main political parties’ manifestos. The SLCMP is an independent organization with
no affiliation to any of the parties.
The purpose of this review is to investigate the proposed policies of
each party in a number of key areas:
Gender issues, children, youth, corruption, judicial reform, freedom of
information, the criminal libel law, the death penalty, and Sierra Leone’s
international human rights commitments. Each
party’s platform is compared to those of its rivals, and also against the
standards set by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Commentaries
Special Court Issues Sentencing Judgement on the AFRC Accused Persons
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Jul 19, 2007 - 4:28:07 PM
This morning Trial Chamber II of the Special Court for
Sierra Leone (SCSL) issued the Court’s first sentences in the case of alleged
Armed Forces Revolutionary Counsel (AFRC) leaders Alex Tamba Brima, Brima Bazzy
Kamara and Santigie Kanu. Presiding Justice Julia Sebutinde read the judgement
that sentenced Brima and Kanu to fifty years in prison and Kamara to forty-five
years with credit for the time they were detained pending trial. While the
Trial Chamber issued sentences below the Prosecution’s requested sixty years
for Brima and Kamara, it granted the Prosecutor’s requested fifty years for
Kanu.
