THE HAGUE—A new website, www.CharlesTaylorTrial.org, was launched today to provide news and expert analysis—updated daily—on the war crimes trial of former Liberian president Charles Ghankay Taylor.
CharlesTaylorTrial.org will feature daily updates from the courtroom, as well as analysis, background information, the trial calendar, and other resources. The site is a joint project of the Open Society Institute, the Open Society Justice Initiative, and the International Senior Lawyers Project.
Taylor, who is charged with 11 counts of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and serious violations of international law related to the civil conflicts in Sierra Leone, will be tried by the Special Court for Sierra Leone. His trial, which will begin on June 4 and is expected to last 18 months, will be held in The Hague at the request of the Special Court, due to concerns about political destabilization were it held in West Africa.
"CharlesTaylorTrial.org will be an important source of information on the trial, especially for people in West Africa," said James A. Goldston, executive director of the Open Society Justice Initiative. "It is critical that those who were most directly affected by Taylor's actions can follow developments in the courtroom."
A rotating crew of international lawyers will provide CharlesTaylorTrial.org with daily blog reports covering courtroom events, while international justice experts contribute periodic essays and analysis.