In 1991, a struggle for political control of Sierra Leone erupted that would change the face of the country in unimaginable ways. Due to several factors, including colonialism, inequality and greed caused by the presence of diamonds, and structural inadequacies, a sense of discontent reigned among many people ("War-Related Sexual Violence" 15-9 ). As a result, the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) invaded Liberia after training, with the aim of overthrowing the existing government (Park 317). Through its extensive training and determination, the RUF took Sierra Leone by force and enjoyed great success in the early stages of the war. This notably resulted in the displacement of populations (“War-Related Sexual Violence 17-8). However, at the heart of their strategy was something far more devastating and devious: the use of war mechanisms that exploited society and its culture in order to destroy existing Sierra Leonean society. The civil war and conflicts in Sierra Leone have been damaging in many ways, including creating a climate conducive to gender-based crime. The internal conflict amplified existing patriarchal traditions, created within the armed forces a desire to harm the population through social warfare and encouraged violence as a method of asserting power, and created a practice of complacency in response to sustained violence. this context covers a fairly broad scope, as established by Trial Chamber I of the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL). This case established his judgment for the Prosecutor v. Issa Hassan Sesay, Morris Kallon and Augustine Gbao, often referred to as the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) affair in 2009 (Oosterveld 49). This ...... middle of paper ...... field, Valerie. “Gender Jurisprudence of the Special Court for Sierra Leone: Progress in the Revolutionary United Front Judgments”. Cornell Journal of International Law. 44 (2011): 49-74. Park, Augustine. ““Inhuman acts”: forced marriages, girl soldiers and the special court for Sierra Leone. » Social and legal studies. 15 (3): 315-337. “Sierra Leone: Rape and other forms of sexual violence against girls and women. » United States: Amnesty International, 2000. Simpson, Deanna. “Conflict Profile: Sierra Leone. » Women under siege. Np, February 2013. Web. November 22, 2013. “The trauma of war in Sierra Leone.” The Lancet. 355 (2000): 2067-8. “War-related sexual violence in Sierra Leone: a population-based assessment.” United States: Physicians for Human Rights, 2002. "'We'll kill you if you cry': sexual violence in the Sierra Leone conflict." » New York: Human Rights Watch, 2003.