Trust Fund for Victims decides to launch assistance programme in Côte d’Ivoire
Press Release, The Hague, 16 May 2017
On the first day of its 16th Meeting, occurring from 16 to 18 May 2017, the Board of Directors of the Trust Fund for Victims (“the Trust Fund”) at the International Criminal Court (“ICC”) decided to launch a new assistance programme in Côte d’Ivoire to provide physical, psychological rehabilitation and material support for the benefit of victims of crimes under the ICC’s jurisdiction. The Trust Fund hopes to have ongoing assistance projects in Côte d’Ivoire in 2018 and has obligated 800,000 EUR for this purpose.
“It is the Trust Fund’s mandate to make a reality the Rome Statute’s unique promise of reparative justice to victim survivors of crimes under the ICC’s jurisdiction. Through its assistance mandate activities, the Trust Fund is also able to contribute to reconciliation. We know that the need for assistance in Côte d’Ivoire is immense and urgent. Today, the Board has taken an important first step towards helping victim survivors in Côte d’Ivoire move beyond the harm that they have suffered to rebuild their lives and to begin the journey of healing, regaining dignity, and creating a better future.”
- Trust Fund Board Member Mama Koité Doumbia
Following the recommendation of the situation country assessment report prepared by the Trust Fund Secretariat, the Board considered it appropriate for the Trust Fund “to provide physical, psychological rehabilitation and material support for the benefit of victims and their families” for victims of crimes under the jurisdiction of the ICC in Côte d’Ivoire. The Board also considered it appropriate to explore the possibility of collaborating with the Government of Côte d’Ivoire to assist the victims in articulating their views and desires with respect to government-provided reparations programmes.
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