Charles Taylor is to be tried at The Hague [AFP]Charles Taylor, the former Liberian president, heads to the special court for Sierra Leone in The Hague.
He will be tried for war crimes committed during neighbouring Sierra Leone's 11-year civil war.
Taylor, who was president of Liberia from 1997 to 2003, is being tried on 11 counts of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other serious violations of international law.
The alleged crimes include murdering and mutilating civilians, using women and girls as sex slaves, and abducting both adults and children and making them perform forced labour or become fighters.
So what does this trial mean for the victims and their families?
Is it signalling an end to the era of impunity in Africa?
Watch this episode of Inside Story here:
Part 1:
Part 2:
Watch Inside Story at 17:30 GMT on Al Jazeera English
To contact us click on 'Send your feedback' at the top of the page
Watch Al Jazeera English programmes on YouTube