The Special Court for Sierra Leone was set up jointly by the Government of Sierra Leone and the United Nations. It is mandated to try those who bear the greatest responsibility for serious violations of international humanitarian law and Sierra Leonean law committed in the territory of Sierra Leone since 30 November 1996.

Currently, two cases have been completed, including appeals. A Trial judgment has been handed down in the RUF case, and an Appeal judgment will be handed down later this year.

The trial of former Liberian President Charles Taylor is in the Defence phase at The Hague.

To learn more about the Special Court, please see our About section of this site.

The Special Court is the first international criminal tribunal to be funded entirely from voluntary contributions from governments. The Special Court has so far received contributions in cash and in kind from over 40 states, representing all geographic areas of the world. Canada, the Netherlands, Nigeria, the United Kingdom and the United States have provided strong support.

In October 2008, the Management Committee of the Special Court approved a revised completion budget for the Special Court that covers the period from 1 July 2008 to 30 June 2010 – when the Court is expected to conclude its mandate. To see the completion budget of the Special Court for Sierra Leone, click here. For a summary of the completion budget, click here.