The Trust Fund for Victims Launches Ten New Assistance Projects in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

On 16 July 2020, on the eve of the International Criminal Justice Day, the Trust Fund for Victims (TFV) at the International Criminal Court (ICC) celebrated the launch of ten new projects in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Active already in DRC since 2008, these projects, focusing on the provinces of Ituri and North and South Kivus, represent a new programme cycle and a renewed energy and commitment to provide much needed support to victims and survivors of the most serious crimes committed on the territory of the DRC since 1 July 2002.

The ten new projects will be implemented in collaboration with both international and national service providers working in the DRC. They aim to run for a 5 year period, with annual extensions subject to performance and budget availability. The projects will work across a range of sectors; from providing medical support, to projects on psychological rehabilitation; from projects that work to support socioeconomic activities to projects that aim to facilitate community peacebuilding. The programme expects to reach over 20,000 direct beneficiaries.

On occasion of the launch of the projects, TFV Chair of the Board of Directors Mama Koité Doumbia said, "This is a day to celebrate but also a day to remember; for too long the victims and survivors of the most heinous crimes have suffered without justice. I take this opportunity to commend all those whose efforts and hard work have brought us to this point where we can continue to work together to ensure victims' rights and needs are realized as laid out in the Rome Statute system."

Addressing the partners at the kick-off meeting of the new programme, TFV Executive Director Pieter de Baan said, "Despite the situation with Covid-19 and the challenges it poses we have forged on with launching these projects. Together with you, we are adapting planned activities to stay engaged with victims and their communities in these difficult times. Together with you, we ensure that reparative justice becomes a concrete proposition to victim survivors, so they may regain their dignity and resilience."

In 2002, the TFV was established under the Rome Statute, in order to support recovery and resilience for victims of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression.

The mission of the TFV is to respond to the harm resulting from the crimes within the jurisdiction of the ICC by ensuring the rights of victims and their families through the provision of reparation and assistance programmes for them to return to a dignified and contributory life within their communities.

For more information, please contact: [email protected] or visit: www.trustfundforvictims.org