Austria provides significant increase in its voluntary contribution to the ICC Trust Fund for Victims to redressing the harm suffered by victims of Rome Statute crimes
The Trust Fund for Victims (TFV) at the International Criminal Court (ICC) takes great pleasure in announcing that the Government of Austria, a State Party to the ICC, substantially increased its voluntary contribution to the TFV this year to EUR 140,000.
A total amount of EUR 100,000 from the contribution is earmarked to support survivors of sexual and gender-based violence through TFV programmes that provide medical treatment, trauma counselling, education, income generating activities as well as addressing new masculinities to enhance familial and societal reconciliation. The remaining amount of EUR 40,000 is unrestricted and will be used to to redress the harm suffered by victims of Rome Statute crimes, through reparation awards ordered by the ICC and other programmes for their benefit.
In welcoming the contribution, Kevin Kelly, member of the TFV Board of Directors stated “The Trust Fund for Victims at the ICC welcomes this significant increase of contribution from Austria this year. Austria’s consistent support to the TFV illustrates the importance of redressing the harm suffered by victims of Rome Statute crimes through effective reparations and other programmes for their benefit.”
H.E. Astrid Harz, Ambassador of Austria said, ”I am happy that Austria, after 2023, again decided to substantially increase its support for the Trust Fund for Victims. Amongst the many important tasks of the ICC, the work with victims is of particular significance and it is a main focus of the Austrian foreign policy.”
Austria has been supporting the ICC Trust Fund for Victims (TFV) through annual voluntary contributions since 2007. In 2024, Austria’s contribution increased threefold compared to the previous year. This substantial increase reflects Austria's growing commitment to the TFV’s mission, with contributions steadily rising since 2020.
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 cases Lubanga and Al Mahdi. The Trust Fund for Victims is also preparing the start of the reparations programme in the Ntaganda case. Also, in June 2024, the TFV launched its First Ongwen case Funding Appeal 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.
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 26,000 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.