A delegation from the Alliance for Transitional Justice of Liberia (ATJL), led by its Founder, Mr. Jeremiah S. Swen, and the Vice Chairperson for Legal Affairs, Cllr. Joel Elkanah Theoway, participated in the 22nd Anniversary of the Special Residual Court of Sierra Leone (formerly the Special Tribunal for Sierra Leone) and the accompanying Legacy Conference.

During the Conference, the ATJL Delegation, alongside other reputable Civil Society organizations (CSOs) from Liberia, convened a sideline meeting with Amb. Beth Van Schaack, Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal Justice at the United States Department of State. The focus of the meeting was on reaffirming and recommitting the United States Government towards ensuring accountability for grave human rights violations committed during the Liberian Civil War.

Furthermore, the ATJL held sideline meetings with notable figures such as Mr. Stephen Mathias, Assistant Secretary-General for Legal Affairs at the UN’s Office of Legal Affairs; Ms. Béatrice Maillé, Minister-Counsellor and Legal Adviser at the Canada Permanent Mission to the UN; and Wieteke Theeuwen, Legal Adviser at the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the UN.

The meetings served to strengthen the strategic partnership development framework between state and non-state institutions, with the aim of fostering external cooperation to garner broader international support in achieving accountability. This endeavor is crucial in combating systemic impunity and ensuring sustainable national and sub-regional peace, healing, memorialization, and victims’ reparations.

The Residual Court of Sierra Leone is commended for organizing this historic event, which provided a platform for major actors from around the world to review and build upon the current gains achieved in Sierra Leone. Delegates overwhelmingly agreed on the importance of promoting international justice as the cornerstone for achieving global peace, justice, and accountability.

“It is imperative for Liberia to embrace accountability now. Justice and sustainable development are inherently interconnected, and it is crucial for Liberia to prioritize accountability in its journey towards lasting peace and prosperity,” said the team .