Photo: H.E. Ms. Lauma Paegļkalna, Vice Minister of Justice of the Republic of Latvia and H.E. Ms. Solvita Āboltiņa, Ambassador of the Republic of Latvia to the Kingdom of Netherlands (center right and center) with TFV Board Chair Ms. Minou Tavárez Mirabal and TFV Board Members Mr. Andres Parmas and H.E. Kevin Kelly, meeting in the margins of the 23rd session of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute, in The Hague in December 2024.
07 Jan 2025

The Trust Fund for Victims (TFV) at the International Criminal Court (ICC) is pleased to announce the recent increased contribution from Latvia, a State Party to the ICC since 2002, to the TFV of a total amount of EUR 150,000. This contribution has been earmarked in line with the Regulations of the Trust Fund for Victims, for the benefit of victims of the situation in Ukraine, and in particular for consultations to determine the feasibility and appropriateness of a programme to redress the harm suffered by victims of Rome Statute crimes in the situation in Ukraine.

 

Mr Andres Parmas, member of the Board of Directors of the Trust Fund for Victims at the ICC, representing the Eastern European States stated, “Latvia’s remarkable threefold increase in its contribution to the Trust Fund for Victims underscores its enduring commitment to reparative justice and the principles of the Rome Statute. This significant support highlights the shared responsibility of States Parties to address the material, psychological, and physical harm endured by victims of mass atrocities. By enabling the TFV programmes for the benefit of victims, Latvia not only reaffirms its solidarity with the most vulnerable but also sets a powerful example for others to follow. Such acts of commitment foster hope for healing, dignity, and reconciliation for victims worldwide.”

 

H.E. Ms. Inese Lībiņa-Egnere, Minister of Justice of the Republic of Latvia stated, "The Trust Fund for Victims at the ICC is undertaking an admirable mission in supporting victims across global conflict zones. Despite acute funding challenges, TFV persists in fully executing its programmes. I call on other Member States to bolster their financial support for the Trust Fund for Victims at this critical time. Latvia's voluntary contribution reflects our dedication to upholding international legal order and justice, particularly for the Ukrainian people in wartime. Ensuring reparative justice for the most serious crimes of concern to humanity is not only vital for accountability but also an investment in Europe’s security.”

Latvia has provided voluntary contributions to the TFV since 2007, and tripled its contribution in 2024 from 2023, the highest it has provided to date.

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 finalisation of the reparation programme for victims in the Katanga case in October 2023. Implementation of reparations programmes is ongoing in the Lubanga and Al Mahdi cases. The TFV is actively implementing reparations for one group of victims in the Ntaganda case, who are also part of the Lubanga programme for former child soldiers and preparing the reparations programme for a second group of victims of attacks in Ntaganda case.  

 

Additionally, in June 2024, the TFV launched its First Funding Appeal in the Ongwen case to enable the implementation of the Trial Chamber’s EUR 52.4 million Reparations Order of 28 February 2024, which seeks to benefit more than 40,000 victims. After fulfilling this first funding appeal, the Trust Fund for Victims intends to mobilise at least EUR 5 million per year to progressively implement the Ongwen Reparation Order.

 

In 2024-2025, the TFV is also implementing other programmes for the benefit of victims 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. The programmes include the provision of medical treatment, psychological rehabilitation, socio-economic support, education, peacebuilding, and commemoration activities with collaboration from local authorities and local communities. In 2023, over 23,000 individuals directly benefitted from seven programmes of the TFV.

 

Programmes for the benefit of victims of crimes under the jurisdiction of the ICC bridge impact of the Sustainable Development Goal 16 on peace, justice, and strong institutions (SDG 16), poverty reduction (SDG 1), good health and wellbeing (SDG3), gender equality (SDG 5), decent work and economic growth (SDG8), climate action (SDG 13) and reduced inequalities (SDG 10). 

 

The Trust Fund for Victims at the ICC contributes to realising the pillars of reparative justice of the Rome Statute through measures that recognise and redress the harm of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and crimes of aggression on victims and their families.