Former Liberian President, Charles Taylor, will be tried in June 2007.

The Trust recently began working on a two-year project to raise public awareness and debate around transitional justice issues in five African countries emerging from civil conflict.

Working in close partnership with the International Centre for Transitional Justice (ICTJ), the Trust will deliver specialist training for 150 broadcast and print journalists in:

• Burundi
• Democratic Republic of Congo
• Liberia
• Sierra Leone
• Uganda

'If the public, especially the victims of conflicts, are not well informed and consulted, then such mechanisms as special courts and truth commissions can expect only limited success   Julia Crawrford, project director

'If the public, especially the victims of conflicts, are not well informed and consulted, then such mechanisms as special courts and truth commissions can expect only limited success,' says Julia.

'I am excited to lead this important project, which should help increase both the quality and quantity of transitional justice coverage in these five countries.'

Journalism training and mentoring

During the next two years the Trust and ICTJ will provide face-to-face and online training to 10 editors and 20 journalists from each of the five countries (150 in total).

Print and broadcast materials that address transitional justice issues and stimulate debate will be produced. These materials will be available locally and worldwide via the project website.

Journalists trained during the project will then act as mentors to peer groups in their own countries in the future.

Population surveys will be carried out in all five countries to assess perceptions of transitional justice and the way it is covered by local media.

Follow up surveys will be conducted to help measure the impact of the project.

Coming to terms with a violent past

Countries emerging from conflict are turning to transitional justice processes as a way of trying to come to terms with a violent past.

These mechanisms include criminal prosecutions, reparations, truth-seeking and institutional reforms.

In each of the five target countries, some form of transitional justice is planned or already underway.

For example, in Sierra Leone, a United Nations backed Special Court is currently holding war crimes trials, and Liberia has established a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which is due to start its hearings soon.

The war crimes trial of former Liberian President, Charles Taylor, before the Sierra Leone Special Court is due to start on 4 June 2007 in The Hague.

Taylor was transferred to The Hague on 20 June 2006 because of regional security concerns. He will be tried using the facilities of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

This transitional justice project is primarily funded by the European Union and the Dutch government, with additional funds from Humanity United.