1. On November 21, 2001, the Government of Japan decided to contribute five hundred thousand U.S. dollars to the United Nations as a part of the necessary cost for establishing a Special Court for Sierra Leone whose subject-matter jurisdiction comprises crimes under the international humanitarian law and Sierra Leonean law.

2. Since March 1991, disputes have occurred intermittently between the Sierra Leonean Government and the rebel forces, deteriorating the human rights and humanitarian situation in the country. Concerned about such inhumane acts in Sierra Leone, the U.N. Security Council, in August 2000, unanimously adopted its resolution 1315 for the purpose of establishing a Special Court to bring to justice those who were responsible for serious violations of international humanitarian law and Sierra Leonean law.

3. As the Special Court should be funded by voluntary contributions from the international community, Mr. Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations, appealed to the U.N. Member States for contributions, and Japan's present donation is in response to the appeal. The activities of the Special Court will have a great significance in achieving national reconciliation, and building peace and good governance in Sierra Leone.