Independent global civil society campaigning for:
Independent global civil society campaigning for:
Civil society was instrumental in bringing about a victim-centered Rome Statute—and continues to work that the ICC serves their interests at every turn. The Rome Statute empowers the victims of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide to hold their persecutors to account and live with hope, dignity and respect.
The ICC is the first international court to give victims the right to participate in trial proceedings. Victims can testify directly during trial and—through a legal representative—present their views and concerns. The Court provides these victims with protective measures, counseling and other assistance.
The Rome Statute also establishes victims’ right to seek and receive reparations. Reparations are not limited to monetary compensation. They can come in many forms, such as rehabilitation. Reparations are decided by the Court’s judges and administered by the Trust Fund for Victims.
By participating in ICC proceedings, victims of the world’s worst crimes have the opportunity not only to testify about the crimes committed against them, but to obtain redress for the harms they have suffered.
Established in 1997, the VRWG played a crucial role in the drafting of the Rome Statute, ensuring that important provisions on victims’ rights were included in the Court’s founding document.
Today, the VRWG works to guarantee that these provisions are properly implemented and that victims’ needs and concerns are met at all stages of the ICC’s judicial processes.
At the ICC, victims have the right to seek reparations and can receive for the harms they have suffered. The Trust Fund for Victims exists to give it to them.
The Trust Fund’s mission is twofold:
To implement Court-ordered reparations and;
To provide general assistance, including physical rehabilitation, material support, and/or psychological rehabilitation.
To date, the Trust Fund has provided assistance to about 80,000 victims in countries where the Court has active investigations, like Uganda and the DRC.
While Court-ordered reparations can come from the convicted person’s assets, the Trust Fund’s ability to provide general assistance is dependent on voluntary contributions from states and non-state entities.
Consider making a donation today!
Outreach is also vital to creating conditions conducive to facilitating participation and legal representation of victims in ICC proceedings; explaining due process rights; facilitating redress for affected communities; and creating an enabling and supportive environment for field engagement and presence.
Early and direct outreach with victims and affected communities helps ensure the cost efficient implementation of the ICC legal mandate with regards to victims’ participation.
Established in 1997, the VRWG played a crucial role in the drafting of the Rome Statute, ensuring that important provisions on victims’ rights were included in the Court’s founding document.
Read more about how we work to make justice visible to world over.
Armenia can say never again to genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity by joining the ICC.
People from Ituri, DRC give their reactions to and ask questions about the confirmation of the acquittal of Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui and other recent ICC decisions.
Andreas Schüller of the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights discusses how global civil society has been fighting on multiple fronts to chip away at the impunity of the world’s most powerful nation.
The Central African Republic (CAR) has taken an important step towards accountability for atrocities committed during its ongoing crisis.
Dutch authorities are set to deport Congolese militia leader Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui after a court rejected his second asylum request last week.
A panel discussion was held with two candidates from the Asian region vying to fill a judicial vacancy at the ICC this coming June.
The last-minute cancellation of Sudanese President Omar AlBashir’s trip to Indonesia this week is a welcome rebuke to fugitives from international justice, the Coalition for the International Criminal Court said today. Read more...
The last-minute cancellation of Sudanese President Omar AlBashir’s trip to Indonesia this week is a welcome rebuke to fugitives from international justice, the Coalition for the International Criminal Court said today. Read more...
The last-minute cancellation of Sudanese President Omar AlBashir’s trip to Indonesia this week is a welcome rebuke to fugitives from international justice, the Coalition for the International Criminal Court said today. Read more...
The last-minute cancellation of Sudanese President Omar AlBashir’s trip to Indonesia this week is a welcome rebuke to fugitives from international justice, the Coalition for the International Criminal Court said today. Read more...
The last-minute cancellation of Sudanese President Omar AlBashir’s trip to Indonesia this week is a welcome rebuke to fugitives from international justice, the Coalition for the International Criminal Court said today. Read more...
The last-minute cancellation of Sudanese President Omar AlBashir’s trip to Indonesia this week is a welcome rebuke to fugitives from international justice, the Coalition for the International Criminal Court said today. Read more...