Thomas lubanga dyilo biography of christopher

Congolese militia leader Thomas Lubanga was convicted in March 2012 of the war crimes of enlisting and conscripting children under 15 and using them in hostilities in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Confirmed upon appeal. Sentenced to 14 years imprisonment, to be completed in the DRC.

ICC first landmark trial

As the first before ICC, the Lubanga trial was a landmark achievement for the Rome Statute system of international justice.

The trial did much to highlight the problem of child soldiers and the need to protect children in conflict. The eventual guilty verdict and sentencing sent out a strong message that perpetrators of such crimes could, and would, be held to account.

At the time of the commission of the crimes, Lubanga was the founding leader of the Union des Patriotes Congolais (UPC) and the commander-in-chief of its military w