Originally published on the CGS blog on July 10, 2012.
Today, the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) first trial was completed with the sentencing of Thomas Lubanga Dyilo to fourteen years in prison. Lubanga, of the Democratic Republic of Congo, was found guilty by the Court in March of conscripting child soldiers for use in battle.
This first sentencing is certainly a landmark moment for the ICC. It’s good to see the Court complete a trial and ensure that a vicious warlord will be put away, though it’s a bit disheartening to see the length of the sentence is shorter than what the ICC Prosecutor had recommended. The prosecution had asked for Lubanga to serve 30 years for his crimes. His sentence is further reduced because the six years he’s been in custody will count toward his incarceration, so he will only serve an additional eight years (with the possibility of getting out even sooner due to good behavior).
With all that said, I’m still happy to see some measure of justice done in today’s sentencing of Lubanga. I’m proud to see the ICC reach this milestone moment, and I hope this sentence brings some measure of peace to Lubanga’s victims and their families. I look forward to a future in which the Court succeeds in putting many other war criminals behind bars where they belong.
