New Zealand's Voluntary Contribution Strengthens the Trust Fund for Victims

The Trust Fund for Victims (TFV) at the International Criminal Court (ICC) is pleased to announce the unrestricted voluntary contribution of EUR 168,900 received from New Zealand this year. The TFV intends to use this contribution for ongoing assistance programmes and for initial consultations to determine the feasibility of starting programmes in other nine situations under jurisdiction of the ICC, where the TFV does not yet operate.

Welcoming this contribution, Ibrahim Yillah, Vice Chair of the TFV Board of Directors said, “New Zealand's valuable support, alongside that of other States Parties, contributes significantly to the Trust Fund for Victims, fostering an environment where survivors of human rights violations can rebuild their lives with dignity, hope, and choice. This support is crucial for providing meaningful redress to victims, as their journey toward reparative justice relies on the collective effort of the international community. The TFV looks forward to strengthen this partnership in achieving this meaningful goal.”

H.E. Susannah Gordon, Ambassador of New Zealand to the Kingdom of the Netherlands said, “New Zealand continues to stand with victims and survivors of crimes of most serious concern to the international community, and with the Trust Fund for Victims as it delivers real and meaningful justice. We are pleased to continue to support the TFV through this additional voluntary contribution and call on others to consider doing the same to ensure we see justice in the field, as well as in the courtroom”.

Since 2004, the TFV has received over EUR 48 million from 52 States Parties and individuals. This year, the TFV has increased contributions from States Parties by at least 35% from 2022, from at least 23 States Parties. New Zealand has provided voluntary contributions three times to the TFV with a total amount of over EUR 560,000.

The Trust Fund for Victims at the ICC is one of the pillars of reparative justice of the Rome Statute, dedicated to realising the right of reparations for victims—encompassing restitution, compensation, and rehabilitation.

In 2023, the Trust Fund for Victims has concluded the first judicial cycle of the ICC, with the completion of the reparation programme for victims in the Katanga case.  The TFV continues implementing reparation programmes for victims of crimes against humanity and war crimes in the cases of Lubanga, Al Mahdi, and Ntaganda, while awaiting the reparations order in the Ongwen case.

The TFV is also implementing other programmes for the benefit of victims through the provision of medical treatment, psychological rehabilitation, socio-economic support, education, and peace-building activities with collaboration from local authorities and close involvement of 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.

For more information about the Trust Fund for Victims, please contact: trustfundforvictims@icc-cpi.int  or visit: www.trustfundforvictims.org