Chile reaffirms its support to the victims of Rome Statute crimes through contribution to the Trust Fund for Victims at the International Criminal Court
The Trust Fund for Victims (TFV) of crimes under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has received a contribution of EUR 11,000 from the Government of the Republic of Chile. These funds are dedicated to the reparation programmes and other programmes for the benefit of victims that the Trust Fund for Victims implements.
Ambassador Jaime Moscoso Valenzuela affirmed that “access to justice that integrates the reparation and reconciliation of the victims must be an aspiration shared by all States. For this reason, it is important that the ICC, in its decisions and actions, have the focus on them. Chile is committed to this approach and, therefore, we consider it important that the States strengthen our support for the Trust Fund for Victims, making visible the work it carries out with its double mandate to implement the reparations to the victims ordered by ICC, as well as in their assistance work, providing them with physical, psychological and material support, as well as their families. The vital role that the Trust Fund for Victims fulfils, especially in relation to reparation and assistance to the victims of the most violent crimes, makes this Court unique, a characteristic that, in our opinion, must be preserved and strengthened.”
In receiving the contribution the Chair of the TFV Board of Directors, Ms. Minou Tavárez Mirabal recognized “Chile’s unwavering commitment to the fight against impunity and to a rule of law based order is symbolized in the financial contribution that strengthen the Rome Statute system approach to realize the rights of victims through effective justice and reparations. On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Rome Statute, we call on all States Parties to include in its commitments to the International Criminal Court contributions to the Trust Fund for Victims.”
In 2009, Chile became the 109th State Party to the Rome Statute. It provided its first contribution to the Trust Fund for Victims on 2019, and the contribution for 2023 is the third voluntary contribution from Chile to the TFV.
The TFV relies on financial contributions to implement its programmes. Non-earmarked voluntary contributions, such as this from Chile, are important to allow the Board of Directors the flexibility to allocate the resources to programmes where it is most impactful and necessary. The TFV also welcomes contributions from States Parties’ development and cooperation funding, where possible
Since 2004, the TFV has received over EUR 47 million from 52 States Parties and individuals. In 2022, the TFV received over EUR 3,8 million in voluntary contributions. For 2023, the TFV has received or is in the process of receiving contributions from Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, New Zealand, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
With the contributions it receives, the Trust Fund for Victims is currently implementing reparation programmes for victims of crimes against humanity and war crimes in in the cases of Katanga, Lubanga, Al Mahdi, and victims in urgent need in the Ntaganda case, while being involved in reparation proceedings 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 International Criminal Court 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: [email protected] or visit: www.trustfundforvictims.org