Summary: Former Liberian President Charles Taylor was unanimously found guilty of wartime atrocities after a trial at the U.N.-backed tribunal at the Hague. Taylor, who sponsored numerous violent rebel groups in neighboring Sierra Leone, was convicted in what is being called a landmark case for human rights and international justice. Alex Vines, head of the Africa Program asserts, "This is an important signal that the international community can deliver, and it will be a consideration for dictators in the future."Response: Taylor's conviction is a prime example of the power of the international court in the administration of justice to those whose atrocities evade national judicial systems. I was happy to read that the people of Sierra Leone and Liberia rejoiced at the news of Taylor's conviction because they were finally receiving the assurance that justice can and will serve even the most mighty warlords. The funny thing is, I have not seen any "Stop Taylor" posters or watched any hip and musically enriched videos encouraging me to take action. Unlike the recent Kony 2012 movement, which involves more media and merchandise than it does activism, Taylor's conviction was to-the-point and lacking in controversial media coverage. The Taylor case shows that there are some issues that Facebook, friendship bracelets, and fads can't fix. The international court is growing in power and certainly does not need our "liking" it to be effective.
Cendrowicz, Leo. "Warlord Convicted: Liberia's Charles
Taylor Found Guilty of War Crimes." Time
Magazine. Time INc. , 26 A. Web. 26 Apr 2012.