Press Release: 12 February 2021

Newly elected Judge to the ICC, Gocha Lordkipanidze, resigns from TFV Board of Directors

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Photo: Mr Gocha Lordkipanidze, newly elected Judge to the ICC, former member of the Board of Directors of the Trust Fund for Victims at the International Criminal Court © Ministry of Justice of Georgia

Following his election as a Judge at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in December 2020, on 2 February 2021, Mr Lordkipanidze submitted his letter of resignation, with immediate effect, as a member of the Board of Directors of the Trust Fund for Victims (TFV).

Speaking on his resignation Mr Lordkipanidze said, "I am honoured to have served as a member of the Board of the Trust Fund for Victims since 2018. Together with the TFV Secretariat, we worked in a dedicated manner for the benefit of victims and although my new role necessitates my resignation from this position, this incredible and memorable experience will help in fulfilling my duties as a Judge at the ICC.''

During his mandate as a member of the TFV Board, Mr Lordkipanidze contributed to important decisions in relation to the effective and expeditious implementation of a growing number of reparations awards and assistance programmes. He also took part in 662 administrative eligibility decisions on applications for individual reparations awards in the Al Mahdi case.

Chair of the TFV Board of Directors, Mama Koité Doumbia said, "On behalf of the Board, I would like to take this opportunity to thank my colleague Gocha for his contribution to the work of the TFV and to congratulate him in his election as Judge for the ICC.  Serving as Judge for the ICC is a privilege and an opportunity to continue the fight against impunity and the implementation of the rule of law. We are looking forward to continue working with Gocha in his new capacity to ensure that the plight of victims suffering injustice remains at the centre of the Rome Statute system.''

TFV Executive Director Pieter de Baan offered his congratulations, saying "At the Secretariat, we have come to appreciate Mr Lordkipanidze's consistent engagement and insightful guidance and advice, amidst the great variety of his other commitments and engagements. I look forward to welcome Mr Lordkipanidze to The Hague in his new capacity, still within the Rome Statute framework."

Gocha Lordkipanidze was elected to the TFV Board in December 2018 by the States Parties to the Rome Statute, for a period of three years. Mr Lordkipanidze  is from Georgia and represented the Eastern European group of States Parties in the TFV Board. Members of the TFV Board of Directors function in their personal capacity and on a pro bono basis. The election procedure of a new Board member representing the Eastern European group will be conducted by the Bureau of the Assembly of States Parties. In December 2021, the ICC States Parties will elect a new TFV Board of Directors for a next mandate period of three years.

TFV Board of Directors

Mama Koité Doumbia (Chair) (Mali, representing African States)

Minou Tavarez Mirabal (Dominican Republic, representing the Americas and Caribbean State),

Baroness Arminka Helić (UK, representing Western European and Other States),

Sheikh Mohammed Belal (Bangladesh, representing the Asian States),

TFV Secretariat

Pieter de Baan, Executive Director

For more information about the Trust Fund for Victims, please contact: [email protected] or visit: www.trustfundforvictims.org

Source: Trust Fund for Victims