9 Oct 2012

UN / SIERRA LEONE

As the Special Court for Sierra Leone approaches the completion of its work, the Presiding Justice of the Court, Shireen Avis Fisher, told the Security Council today (9 October) that most surveyed Sierra Leoneans believe that the Court has accomplished its mandate. UNTV

Posted at: October 9, 2012 6:08 pm

Duration: 01:58

Available in: SD

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STORY: UN / SIERRA LEONE
TRT:  1.58
SOURCE: UNTV 
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 9 OCTOBER 2012, NEW YORK CITY / FILE

SHOTLIST:

FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY

1.	Wide shot, exterior United Nations headquarters

22 MARCH 2012, NEW YORK CITY

2.	Wide shot, Security Council
3.	Med shot, delegates
4.	SOUNDBITE (English) Shireen Avis Fisher, President of the Special Court for Sierra Leone: 
"An independent nationwide survey in Sierra Leone and Liberia was conducted. It was designed to measure the impact and legacy of the Special Court for Sierra Leone. 79.16, almost 80 percent of the people surveyed believed that the Special Court had accomplished its mandate."
5.	Med shot, delegates
6.	SOUNDBITE (English) Michael Tatham, Political Coordinator at the Permanent Mission of the United Kingdom to the United Nations: 
"It is heartening to hear from the President of the Special Court that the people of Sierra Leone and Liberia feel so strongly that the Special Court has contributed to bringing peace in their countries. The Special Court's prosecution of Charles Taylor sends a strong message that the international community will not allow serious crimes to be committed with impunity and it signals that the reach of international justice is long and patient."
7.	Med shot, delegates
8.	Wide shot, Security Council
9.	Wide shot, press conference dais
10.	Close up, photographer
11.	SOUNDBITE (English) Michelle Bachelet, Head of UN Women:
"Through its charges and judgments to date, the Court has laid the foundation in international criminal law for the recognition of forced marriage, sexual violence as terrorism, sexual slavery, and the recruitment and the use of child soldiers."
12.	Med shot, journalists
13.	Wide shot, journalists 
14.	SOUNDBITE (English) Shireen Avis Fisher, President of the Special Court for Sierra Leone: 
"When it came particularly to a head was after the Lome peace agreement was signed and it became obvious that for 50 percent at least of the population of Sierra Leone, there was no peace, because the number of rapes and attacks against women and girls increased."
15.	Close up, journalist
16.	Wide shot, dais

STORYLINE:

The United Nations today (9 October) praised the work done by the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL) to prosecute sexual and gender-based crimes committed during conflicts, and called for increased support for the Court's work from the international community.

In May, the Court sentenced former Liberian President Charles Taylor to 50 years in prison for planning and for aiding and abetting crimes committed by Sierra Leonean rebel forces during the country's civil war. Taylor was found guilty of acts of terrorism, murder, rape, sexual slavery and enlisting child soldiers, among other charges.

As the SCSL approaches the completion of its work, the President of the Court, Shireen Avis Fisher, told the Council that an independent nationwide survey in Sierra Leone and Liberia designed to measure the impact and legacy of the Court had been conducted.

Fisher said "79.16, almost 80 percent of the people surveyed believed that the Special Court had accomplished its mandate."

Ambassador Michael Tatham of the United Kingdom said it was "heartening" that the people of Sierra Leone and Liberia "feel so strongly that the Special Court has contributed to bringing peace in their countries."

Tatham said Taylor prosecution by the Court "sends a strong message that the international community will not allow serious crimes to be committed with impunity and it signals that the reach of international justice is long and patient."

At a later press conference Michelle Bachelet, the Executive Director of the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) highlighted that the Court had laid the foundation in international humanitarian law, for the recognition of acts such as forced marriages as crimes against humanity.

At the same press conference, Fisher recalled that "when it came particularly to a head was after the Lome peace agreement was signed and it became obvious that for 50 percent at least of the population of Sierra Leone, there was no peace, because the number of rapes and attacks against women and girls increased."

The SCSL is an independent tribunal set up jointly by the Government of Sierra Leone and the UN. It is mandated to try those who bear the greatest responsibility for serious violations of international humanitarian law and Sierra Leonean law committed in the country since 30 November 1996.

The SCSL is currently completing the trial phase of its mandate, with operational funding secured only through the end of November. The Court's leadership addressed the Security Council today, calling for increased funds and support from the international community to establish a Residual Special Court.

The conflict in Sierra Leone dates from March 1991 when fighters of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) launched a war from the east of the country near the border with Liberia to overthrow the government.

By early 2002, peacekeepers had disarmed and demobilized more than 75,000 ex-fighters, including child soldiers. On 18 January 2002, the war in Sierra Leone was officially declared ended.