From the Court Chamber to the Court of Public Opinion – facilitating local media coverage of the trial of Charles Taylor
The BBC World Service Trust (BBCWST) is implementing a two-pronged project. It is developing, deploying and supporting a team of Liberian and Sierra Leonean reporters to cover the court proceedings from The Hague, as it works with media outlets across Liberia and Sierra Leone to develop and produce their own locally-appropriate programming.
Since the trial’s debut in June 2007, each team has filed daily correspondence-style reports from the court chambers to partner radio stations in Sierra Leone and Liberia. Off the back of these reports, project staff in country have worked to produce a weekly 30-minute radio programme for broadcast throughout the two countries. Team members have also provided sustained on-the-job training and mentoring (backed up by equipment donations) to more than 30 radio stations. Furthermore, these stations, and others in the project’s distribution network, produce their own programming around key transitional justice and development issues arising from the case, primarily in the area of civic education.
Charles Taylor trial weekly summaries (January 12 - 16, 2009)
Charles Taylor comes face to face with one of his own Nationals; a Journalist who alleged that Taylor’s presidency in Liberia had an indisputable character flaw of torturing civilians.
Resumption of Charles Taylor’s trial
The trial of former Liberian President Charles Taylor will resume on Monday 12 January 2009, following the Christmas and New Year recess. The trial of Mr. Taylor who is charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity adjourned on December 11, 2008 for the Christmas and New Year holidays.
Charles Taylor trial weekly summaries (December 1 - 5, 2008)
Former RUF Commander identifies several routes allegedly used by Taylor’s Commanders to transport arms and ammunition to the RUF in Sierra Leone
Charles Taylor trial weekly summaries (November 24 - 28, 2008)
The amputees and war wounded Sierra Leoneans are finding it difficult to forgive Charles Taylor for his alleged involvement in the civil war
Charles Taylor trial weekly summaries (November 17 - 21, 2008)
The Prosecution has tendered into evidence photographs depicting the atrocities committed by the rebels in Sierra Leone. Mariama Fornah reports.
Charles Taylor trial weekly summaries (November 10 - 14, 2008)
The SCSL is now hearing the testimony of an Insider Witness, allegedly captured and trained by Liberian armed men in 1991. Mariama Fornah reports