Convictions fail to provide justice for war survivors

Ex-civil war combatant Aminata Sesav (in yellow) is training as a hairdresser with Caritas [Annie Bungeroth]

Ex-civil war combatant Aminata Sesav (in yellow) is training as a hairdresser with Caritas Makeni [Annie Bungeroth]

The conviction of three Revolutionary United Front (RUF) leaders by the UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone is not enough to provide real justice for victims of the civil war

The Special Court in Freetown has found three senior rebel leaders of the RUF guilty of multiple crimes against humanity - but, although we welcome the court’s decision, there is still an urgent need for greater support for the survivors of the conflict.

Mary Convill, our regional representative in Freetown says: "We welcome the decision as it is vital that those who’ve committed such crimes face justice. It also sends out a message beyond Sierra Leone that human rights will be upheld.

Ordinary Sierra Leoneans, their victims, will most likely continue to live in far worse conditions than the guilty prisoners. Survivors of the conflict will struggle to see that as ‘justice’

Mary Convill, CAFOD

"However, for the legacy of the war to be transformed into something positive, the level of international investment in the Special Court must be replicated with the same investment in rebuilding the shattered lives of the orphans, the amputees, the displaced and the thousands who live with the mental trauma it caused."

Special concern for young people

She continues: "CAFOD in Sierra Leone has a special concern for young people who survived the war but whose childhood was marred by loss of education, parental support and guidance when families members were killed or when the children themselves were brutalised or traumatised by the war.

"The court is ‘Special’, but detached from the reality of Sierra Leone. If the convicted leaders are finally sent to jail, it will almost certainly be a prison overseas and ordinary Sierra Leoneans, their victims, will most likely continue to live in far worse conditions than the guilty prisoners. Survivors of the conflict will struggle to see that as ‘justice’."

The charges against Issa Sesay, Morris Kallon and Augustine Gbao included murder, amputation, sexual slavery and enlistment of child soldiers.

The nine year civil war had a devastating impact – tens of thousands died and more than two million people were made homeless. The rebel groups showed their brutality against communities with rape, torture, amputations and forced recruitment of children - some as young as eight years old - into their ranks.

John Caulker, director of our local partner Forum of Conscience - which works on community reconciliation - says: "The court’s decision is positive, but can only be part of the process.

"We must look at the plight of the victims, who are still suffering nearly ten years on. Three men have been convicted but there are thousands more who have committed atrocities and still living free out in the villages.

"For the peace-process to be sustainable, there must be a focus on community reconciliation. I am calling on the Sierra Leonean government and international institutions to back the reparations programme for victims of the war.

"People’s dignity must be restored if we are able to move on from the war. The Special Court is failing to address real issues for real people.

"We need to focus on reconciliation at a village level, to allow victims and perpetrators to understand what went wrong so we can never again suffer such a conflict."

Media: For further information or interviews please contact Tim Sowula on 00 44 020 7095-5561 or 00 44 (0)7920 287 546 or email: tsowula@cafod.org.uk