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	War crimes trial of former Liberian leader at UN-backed tribunal begins by United Nations News   1 June 2007   The war crimes trial of Charles Taylor, the notorious former Liberian president, begins on Monday with opening arguments in The Hague before the United Nations-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL).   Mr. Taylor faces 11 counts of war crimes, crimes against humanity and other serious violations of international humanitarian law, including mass murder, mutilations, rape, sexual slavery and the use of child soldiers, for his role in the decade-long civil war that engulfed Sierra Leone, which borders Liberia.   The trial is expected to last until December 2008, with a judgement likely by mid-2009. Prosecutors have indicated they plan to call up to 139 core witnesses.   A year ago the Security Council authorized the staging of Mr. Taylor’s trial at The Hague in the Netherlands, citing reasons of security and expediency. Although the trial will be held at the premises of the International Criminal Court (ICC), it will remain under the exclusive jurisdiction of the SCSL.   The Special Court was established on 16 January 2002 by an agreement between the Government of Sierra Leone and the UN and is mandated to try “those who bear greatest responsibility” for war crimes and crimes against community committed in the country after 30 November 1996. So far 11 people have been indicted.
	UN envoy calls for reforms to address human rights concerns in Cambodia by Yash Ghai United Nations   May 2007   A United Nations envoy today welcomed legal reforms in Cambodia, expressing hope that their long-awaited adoption will begin to redress unjust court proceedings and other violations of human rights in the Southeast Asian country.   The Special Representative of the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for human rights in the country, Yash Ghai, said he hoped that the Code of Penal Procedure “will overcome many of the problems that have dogged the Cambodian justice system and that the Government will give priority to its implementation.”   Mr. Ghai, who conducted his third official visit to Cambodia from 29 to 31 May 2007, cited, with particular regret, a recent decision by the Appeal Court to uphold convictions for the murder of a trade union leader despite strong exculpatory evidence and “fundamentally flawed” proceedings.   “The upholding of these sentences is a grave injustice and the Special Representative reiterates his calls for a thorough, impartial and credible investigation into the murder of Chea Vichea, and for the prosecution of those responsible,” he said in a statement.   Mr. Ghai also voiced hope for the speedy adoption of the Internal Rules for the courts organized to try former Khmer Rouge leaders, accused of mass killings and other horrific crimes during the late 1970s, stressing the importance of independent international monitoring of the trials and the investigation of irregularities.   On other issues, he noted with alarm the continued intimidation of members of the workers’ movement and said he will shortly release a report presenting a human rights perspective on land concessions that he maintains have destroyed the livelihoods of rural communities in favour of the enrichment of an elite.   On the other hand, he noted with approval that the commune council elections on 1 April were conducted in an atmosphere marked by less violence, threats and confrontation than in previous elections, though he also looked forward to investigations of the drop in voter turnout. He said those who wish to vote in next year’s general elections should have the “full opportunity to register and cast their votes,” and for political parties to be given the opportunity “to conduct their campaigns fairly and freely.”
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