Press Release: The Hague, 27 September 2017 

On Monday, 25 September 2017, the Egyptian American law professor Cherif Bassiouni passed away. Remembering Mr. Bassiouni as the “father of international criminal law”, the Trust Fund for Victims at the International Criminal Court (ICC) recalls his immense impact on victims’ rights in international law. “Cherif Bassiouni was a distinguished advocate for victims of mass atrocities,” said Mr. Noguchi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Fund.

Further to being a main instigator of the establishment of the ICC in 2002, Mr. Bassiouni was highly influential in the development of the UN Basic Principles on the Right to a Remedy and Reparation, adopted by the General Assembly in 2005.

Affirming international solidarity with victims of violations of international law, the UN Basic Principles laid the foundation for the inclusion of the TFV’s assistance mandate in its Regulations, adopted by the Assembly of States Parties in November 2005.

The ability of TFV Board of Directors to offer a broad range of reparative justice initiatives to victims in ICC situation countries is in no small measure due to the tireless advocacy of Cherif Bassiouni.