Ending Impunity in Africa: The Charles Taylor Trial at the Special Court for Sierra Leone (Other PAPERS‪)‬

INTRODUCTION At this time, Charles Ghankay Taylor, (1) the former President of Liberia, awaits trial at The Hague, Netherlands, by The Special Court For Sierra Leone. (2) [Special Court] The trial is provisionally set to start on April 2, 2007. Mr. Taylor was indicted on March 7, 2003, on 17 counts of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other serious violations of international humanitarian law. On March 16, 2006, the indictment was amended (3) to 11 counts; specifically charged with acts of terrorism, a violation of Article 3 Common to the Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocol II, murder, violence to life, health and physical or mental well-being of persons including murder and cruel treatment, rape, sexual slavery and any other form of sexual violence, outrages upon personal dignity, other inhumane acts, conscripting or enlisting children under the age of 15 years into armed force, or groups, or using them to participate actively in hostilities or other serious violations of international humanitarian law, enslavement and pillage. The amended indictment, signed by Desmond de Silva, the Prosecutor of the Special Court, stated the specific articles under the Court's Statute (4) that the 11 counts were made, and of course, were initiated on the basis of Mr. Taylor's individual criminal responsibility. The amended indictment also contains particulars associated with each count, and sets out a case summary accompanying the amended indictment in which the prosecution evidence, including expert witnesses and witnesses of fact and documentary evidence will be used to prove the aforementioned allegations.