After attending opening statements on Monday, September 29, 2008 in the landmark US trial of Charles "Chuckie" Taylor, Jr. for torture, I wanted to share some comments.

The opening of the trial of Chuckie Taylor is an important moment for the United States and Liberia. Justice for the horrific abuses that were committed during Liberia's conflicts is essential, both for the victims and to help build respect for rule of law. 

Chuckie Taylor's prosecution underscores that more cases for Liberia's past human rights violations are needed, whether before domestic or internationally assisted judicial processes.

During opening statements in Chuckie Taylor's trial in Miami, Florida, the prosecution and defense succinctly put forward their views of the case. 

The prosecution indicated they will present victims who will testify that Chuckie Taylor committed torture and conspired to commit torture, including beheading and sodomizing of individuals, the shocking of individuals with an electrical device, and the cutting of individuals' genitals.

The defense argued that the prosecution's case rests on witnesses who are not credible because they have an incentive to testify, such as the chance to receive asylum. 

The defense showed video of Liberia to support their view that conditions in the country are so difficult that it is understandable why witnesses would fabricate allegations if it might result in assistance.

It will now be for the two sides to examine and cross-examine witnesses. The jury will need to decide the credibility of the testimony and whether the prosecution's charges have been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

It is essential that Chuckie Taylor receive a fair trial consistent with international standards throughout the process.  It is also essential that witnesses receive adequate protection of their security. The judge indicated that the trial is expected to last two months.

Liberia, Australia In Diplomatic Ties

Liberia and Australia have agreed to establish diplomatic relations at ambassadorial level. The decision was reached last week when Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Australian Prime Minister, Keivin Rudd, held discussions at the Liberian Mission in New York, the United States.

Modalities for the implementation of the agreement are to be worked out through foreign ministry authorities of the two countries.

During the discussions, the Liberian President briefed Prime Minister Rudd on the progress government has made in pursuing its development agenda.

Despite some noticeable gains, the Liberian leader acknowledged, the country’s destroyed infrastructure continues to affect its ability to attract more foreign investment.

Unemployment, limited capacity, corruption and a weak judiciary, she stressed, are also among factors which continue to impede the country’s progress.

President Johnson Sirleaf, however, pointed out that government is instituting measures to confront the shortcomings, which she attributed to years of neglect and mismanagement.

The President informed Prime Minister Rudd of the enormous investment opportunity Liberia offers and urged Australian companies to take advantage of the potential. An Australian company.

Woodside, is among a number of companies engaged in oil exploration in Liberia. President Johnson Sirleaf expressed the hope that more Australian companies would participate in Liberia’s infrastructure development programs.

The Australian Prime Minister, for his part, acknowledged that Africa has been ‘off the radar’ in Australia’s foreign policy and said his country intends to put the relations back on track.

Meanwhile, Australia has agreed to train Liberians in the fields of mining, engineering, and agriculture beginning academic year 2009. Prime Minister Rudd promised that his country will consider making a modest contribution to Liberia’s Infrastructure Fund.

He said Australia will work with Liberia meet some of its short and long term development goals. 

Among other high level meetings held last week in New York, the Liberian President also held talks with the President of Finland, Tarja Halonen to discuss, among other issues, next year’s International Women’s Colloquium scheduled to be held in Monrovia in March.  President Halonen is serving as co-host of the conference.

Clinton’s NGO To Assist Adolescent Girls

The Clinton Global Initiative has announced a new partnership for adolescent girls in Liberia. The innovative public-private partnership involving the World Bank, Liberia and the Nike Foundation was announced last week by former United States President Bill Clinton at the opening plenary of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) in New York.

The initiative, an Executive Mansion release says, aims to increase economic opportunities for adolescent girls as part of the efforts to reconstruct Liberia following 14-years of civil war.

The collaboration which represents a major partnership, also being support by Denmark, will be launched on October 10 at the World Bank annual meeting in Washington, DC.

“We are thrilled to have the support of the World Bank, Denmark and the Nike Foundation and expect this collaboration to serve as a model for Africa and the world,” President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf said of the initiative following Wednesday’s announcement in New York.

As powerful economic actors, the Liberian leader said, girls represent the country’s future. She described the partnership as essential to Liberia’s post-conflict recovery.

The Adolescent Girls Initiative will identify employment needs in Liberia, and provide relevant skills training to adolescent girls, matched to paying jobs. 

The training offered to girls between the ages of 16 and 24 will focus on technical skills, as well as the integration of life-skills training to address some of the crucial barriers to the development of adolescent girl’s economic independence.

Employment in high-growth and high-need sectors, such as agriculture, entrepreneurship, emerging industries, urban services, infrastructure, public works and health care, is a major focus.

Initially designed to reach 1-thousand five-hundred adolescent girls and young women, the partners aim to seek the work brought to scale in Liberia and replicated in other developing countries.