Revisiting the Trial of Slobodan Milosevic

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In How We Got Here #51, we revisit the trial of Slobodan Milosevic with lawyer Judith Armatta, the author of the new book Twilight of Impunity. Armatta spent three years in the Hague monitoring the historic trial for the Washington-based Coalition for International Justice. Her book is both a detailed account of what transpired in the courtroom and an in-depth analysis of its meaning and implications for the burgeoning new world of international criminal justice.

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Naomi Campbell testifies in Charles Taylor trial

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The civil war in Sierra Leone lasted a decade and left thousands dead or maimed. The former president of neighboring Liberia, Charles Taylor, is on trial for war crimes committed during the conflict. Prosecutors allege Taylor directly supported one faction, so he could gain access to Sierra Leone’s natural resources particularly diamonds. A special tribunal in The Hague, Netherlands is hearing the case and Thursday British supermodel, Naomi Campbell testified about receiving ‘dirty stones’ from Taylor.
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• Video: See Naomi Campbell’s testimony
• Q&A: Trying Charles Taylor

Israel deports Gaza activists

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Israel is deporting hundreds of foreign activists detained after the deadly raid on an aid flotilla trying to break its blockade of Gaza. Nine activists died when Israeli commandos boarded the convoy on Monday. Prime Minister Netanyahu vowed to continue the blockade and said lifting it would make the Hamas-controled territory a base for missile attacks. The BBC’s Jon Donnison in Gaza describes the kind of aid the activists were trying to deliver. Download MP3

• BBC coverage
• In pictures: Gaza activists released
• Jeb Sharp on Israel’s efforts to blockade Hamas

Gaza conflict

The UN Human Rights Council has backed a report into the Israeli offensive in Gaza that accuses both Israel and Palestinian militants of war crimes. The report by Richard Goldstone calls for credible investigations by Israel and Hamas, and suggests international war crimes prosecutions if they do not. The United States and Israel opposed official endorsement of the report, saying it would set back Middle East peace hopes.

Rape as a weapon of war

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The United Nations Security Council is scheduled to tackle a particularly disturbing tactic of war this week: the use of rape as a weapon. Perhaps the worst recent cases have been in places like eastern Congo, where armed groups have used rape to terrorize communities. Jeb Sharp talks with Anne-Marie Goetz of UNIFEM, the UN’s development agency for women. Download MP3 (Photo: Roberto Schmidt/AFP/Getty Images)

• Jeb Sharp on Clinton’s demand for an end of the sexual abuse (Aug)
• Jeb Sharp’s award-winning series on rape in Congo (2008)
• UNIFEM homepage