Among other factors, the report cites bad governance and corruption as the major causes of the conflict. The conflict resulted in serious human rights violations for the civilian population, such as forced displacement, victimization and amputations.

Women and children were the most affected by the war. Women suffered rape, sexual slavery and forced labor while children were turned into both victims and perpetrators as they committed rape and experienced forced recruitment and use as human shields.

Chairman of the Commission Reverend J.C. Humper, speaking at the opening of the Commission hearings, stated that the TRC's objective was restorative rather than punitive.

During the hearings, live testimonies of perpetrators as well as victims were received.

The video lasts 55 minutes.

Compiled from: Witness to Truth: A Video Report and Recommendations to the Sierra Leone Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Copyright, WITNESS 2004.