WASHINGTON D.C. – The United States Congress’ Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission will conduct a hearing on accountability for war and economic crimes in Liberia. The hearing, titled “Next Steps Towards Accountability for War and Economic Crimes,” is scheduled for Thursday, June 13, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time.
Among the prominent figures who will speak on the ongoing efforts towards accountability for war and economic crimes in Liberia is Dr. Alan W. White, former Chief of Investigations for the United Nations-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone. Dr. White, a retired Federal Law Enforcement Executive and current International Criminal Justice Consultant, directed all criminal investigations for the Office of the Prosecutor during his tenure. His efforts led to the indictment of 13 individuals, including former Liberian President Charles Taylor, who was convicted of war crimes and sentenced to 50 years in prison. Dr. White also played a role in the investigation of Chuckie Taylor, who was convicted of torture in the United States.
Yahsyndi Martin-Kpeyei, co-founder and Executive Director of the Movement for Justice in Liberia (MOJUL), is another notable witness. Martin-Kpeyei’s advocacy extends to her co-founding of Oxygen, a subsidiary of the Alliance of Liberia Women International, which focuses on education and support for victims of gender-based violence in Liberia. Her efforts in community organization and her role as the director of the Liberian Association of Metropolitan Atlanta have earned her recognition, including the passage of Georgia House Resolution 465 in March 2021.
Alvin Smith, Chief Investigator for the International Justice Group (NGO), a Criminal Justice, Homeland Security, and Counter-Terrorism Expert, is also slated to testify. Smith, currently the Chief Investigator for the International Justice Group in Washington, DC, brings extensive experience from his deployments with NATO and the US Department of Defense. He is advancing his expertise through his studies in International Relations and Global Security at American Military University.
Other key witnesses include Adama Kiatamba Dempster, National Secretary General of the Civil Society Human Rights Advocacy Platform of Liberia, and Elizabeth Evenson, Director of the International Justice Program at Human Rights Watch.
This hearing follows a significant executive order signed by President Joseph Boakai on May 2, 2024, to establish a war crimes court aimed at bringing long-awaited justice to victims of Liberia’s two civil wars, which spanned from 1989 to 2003 and resulted in approximately 250,000 deaths. The conflicts were marked by severe human rights abuses, including massacres, rape, and the use of child soldiers. The Truth and Reconciliation Committee, established post-conflict, had recommended the creation of a special court to prosecute those responsible for these atrocities.
Despite initial resistance and concerns about reopening old wounds and undermining the amnesty law that helped end the fighting, the establishment of the court has garnered support from activists and civil society groups. These organizations have long advocated for greater accountability for the crimes committed during the civil wars.
The proposed court, once operational, will adhere to international standards and receive support from international institutions, including the United Nations. It will address both war crimes and economic crimes, aiming to provide comprehensive justice and foster a sense of closure for victims and their families.
The hearing will be a fusion, according to the Commission. Members of Congress will participate in person. Witnesses may participate in person or remotely via Cisco WebEx. The public and the media may attend in person or view the hearing by live webcast on the Commission’s website. The hearing will also be available for viewing on the House Digital Channel service.
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