The Special Court for Sierra Leone was set up jointly by the Government of Sierra Leone and the United Nations 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.
Three cases have been heard in Freetown; the trial of the former Liberian President (Charles Taylor) was moved to The Hague.
The SCSL ended its work in December 2013.
Residual Special Court for Sierra Leone One of its roles is to ensure the survival of the work of the SCSL: such as witness protection, supervision of prison sentences, and management of the SCSL archives.