The Office for the Establishment
of the War and Economic Crimes Court for Liberia (OWECC-L) has sent a
delegation to the Republic of Sierra Leone for a five-day study tour to gain
firsthand knowledge and insights into the country’s experience with accountability,
transitional justice, and the prosecution of war-related crimes.
The study tour forms part of
OWECC-L’s ongoing efforts to learn from countries that have implemented
transitional justice and accountability mechanisms and to draw relevant lessons
that may inform Liberia’s transitional justice process and ongoing preparations
for the establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court.
The delegation is headed by
Reverend Philip L. Nushann and comprises OWECC-L staff, along with
representatives from the Liberia Massacre Survivors Association, the Council of
Churches, the Women NGO Secretariat, Witness Protection, and other key
stakeholders.
The participation of these
stakeholders is intended to promote broader engagement and provide
representatives from different sectors with an opportunity to gain firsthand
insights into Sierra Leone’s transitional justice and accountability
experience.
As part of the study tour, the
delegation is expected to visit the Liberian Embassy in Sierra Leone, where a
team from the Embassy will provide guidance and support throughout the visit.
The Embassy team is also expected to facilitate engagements with relevant
institutions and stakeholders in Sierra Leone.
The Embassy engagement will
provide an opportunity for the delegation to brief the team on the objectives
of the study tour and discuss the activities planned during the delegation’s
five-day stay.
The delegation is also expected
to visit the Special Court for Sierra Leone, where members will learn about the
Court’s establishment, mandate, institutional structure, operations, judicial
processes, and outreach activities.
The engagement is expected to
provide practical insights into Sierra Leone’s experience in addressing serious
crimes committed during its civil war, as well as lessons that may be relevant
to Liberia’s transitional justice process.
Beyond institutional engagements,
the study tour will provide an opportunity for the delegation to examine some
of the experiences and challenges Sierra Leone encountered in implementing its
accountability mechanisms.
Discussions are expected to
address key issues, including public participation, victims’ concerns,
institutional coordination, community outreach, and the preservation of
historical records and documentation of the experiences of victims and
survivors.
The delegation will also engage
members of the Liberian community in Sierra Leone as part of its broader
stakeholder consultations. The community engagements will provide a platform
for dialogue and information sharing on Liberia’s transitional justice process,
including ongoing efforts toward the establishment of the War and Economic
Crimes Court.
The delegation will also listen
to the views, concerns, and expectations of Liberians residing in Sierra Leone,
particularly on issues of accountability, justice, reconciliation, and
Liberia’s transitional justice process.
The team is scheduled to engage
Liberians in Bo, Freetown, and Waterloo. The engagements will allow OWECC-L and
its partners to share information on the Office’s mandate and ongoing work
while gathering perspectives from members of the Liberian diaspora on
accountability, justice, reconciliation, and efforts to address the legacy of
Liberia’s civil conflict.
The Sierra Leone study tour is
part of OWECC-L’s broader efforts to strengthen institutional knowledge,
stakeholder collaboration, public engagement, and understanding of Liberia’s
transitional justice process.
The Office expects the delegation
to return with valuable lessons and experiences that will contribute to ongoing
discussions and preparations for the establishment and effective functioning of
the War and Economic Crimes Court for Liberia.
