France renews its voluntary contribution to the ICC Trust Fund for Victims to support survivors of sexual and gender-based violence and rehabilitation of former child-soldiers
The Trust Fund for Victims (TFV) at the International Criminal Court (ICC) is pleased to announce a voluntary contribution of EUR 140,000 from the Government of France, a State Party to the ICC, to support survivors of sexual and gender-based violence and former child soldiers through TFV programmes.
In welcoming the contribution, Kevin Kelly, member of the TFV Board of Directors stated, “Globally there is a shocking rise of violence against children and of violence of a sexual or gender based nature committed against them, and against women and men. The TFV programmes prioritise responses to support survivors of these heinous crimes. The Board of Directors welcomes critical support from France to continue our mandate in delivering reparative justice for victims of crimes under the jurisdiction of the ICC."
H.E. François Alabrune, Ambassador of France to the Kingdom of the Netherlands said, “Actions in favour of victims, aimed at recreating the conditions of a normal life for them, are an essential dimension of international criminal justice. This is why France is renewing its contribution of 140,000 euros to the International Criminal Court's Trust Fund for Victims in 2024. This support will particularly benefit victims of sexual or gender-based violence and the rehabilitation of former child soldiers.”
France, a state party to the Rome Statute since 9 June 2000, has been supporting the ICC Trust Fund for Victims through annual voluntary contributions since 2005 with a total amount of over EUR 1,7 million.
For more information about the Trust Fund for Victims, please contact trustfundforvictims@icc-cpi.int or visit: www.trustfundforvictims.org. You can also follow TFV’s activities on X, LinkedIn, and Facebook.
Background information
Voluntary funding received by the Trust Fund for Victims has allowed the completion of the first judicial cycle of the ICC, with the finalization of the reparation programme for victims in the Katanga case in October 2023. Implementation of reparations programmes is ongoing in the cases of Lubanga and Al Mahdi. The Trust Fund for Victims is also preparing the start of the reparations programme in the cases of Ntaganda and Ongwen.
The TFV is also implementing other programmes for the benefit of victims through the provision of medical treatment, psychological rehabilitation, socio-economic support, education, peacebuilding, and commemoration activities with collaboration from local authorities and local communities. These programmes are currently being implemented in seven situations under the jurisdiction of the ICC in the Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Georgia, Kenya, Mali and Uganda. In 2023, over 24,000 individuals directly benefitted from seven programmes of the TFV.
The Trust Fund for Victims at the ICC is one of the pillars of reparative justice of the Rome Statute which contributes to realising the right of reparations for victims—encompassing restitution, compensation, and rehabilitation. Initiatives extend to victims and families within the ICC's jurisdiction.