The Special Court for Sierra Leone: A New Type of Regional Criminal Court for the International Community?

Since the end of World War II, the international community has known two different types of international criminal courts trying the commission of war crimes, crimes against humanity and humanitarian law, and similar offences. The first type comprises of courts established by sovereign states to try such crimes, which have already been perpetrated outside their jurisdiction (Nuremberg and Tokyo Courts) or which shall be perpetrated in the future (International Criminal Court, not yet in force). The second type comprises of courts established by virtue of Security Council Resolutions with the mandate to hear cases relating to the commission of such crimes in designated areas (Yugoslavia and Rwanda). On the basis of their establishment, they are considered to be subsidiary organs of the United Nations…[more]