Estonia reaffirms its commitment to reparative justice with continued support to the ICC Trust Fund for Victims
The Trust Fund for Victims (TFV) at the International Criminal Court (ICC) is pleased to announce an increased contribution from Estonia, a State Party to the ICC since 2002, of EUR 45,000. This contribution will support the efforts to redress the harm suffered by victims of Rome Statute crimes, through reparations awards ordered by the ICC and other programmes for their benefit.
Mr Andres Parmas, member of the Board of Directors of the Trust Fund for Victims at the ICC, stated, “Estonia’s longstanding support for the Trust Fund for Victims reflects its deep commitment to reparative justice. This steadfastness reinforces the importance of the ICC’s mission and serves as a call to other States to join this crucial effort to advance reparative justice and uphold the commitments made as States Parties to the Rome Statute. By standing firm in its principles, regardless of challenges or threats faced by the Court, Estonia sets a powerful example of solidarity and leadership in fulfilling our collective responsibility to victims ”.
H.E. Mr Paul Teesalu, Ambassador of the Republic of Estonia to the Kingdom of the Netherlands stated, "Now for more than 10 years, Estonia has been a regular donor of the Trust Fund for Victims at the ICC. We highly value the work of the Trust Fund for Victims in offering compensation and rehabilitation to victims, their families and communities who have suffered from the most serious international crimes. With this contribution Estonia supports the reparative justice, and the unique system of the Rome Statute, the most comprehensive treaty on international criminal law ”.
Estonia has consistently contributed financially to the Trust Fund for Victims since 2013.
For more information about the Trust Fund for Victims, please contact [email protected] or visit www.trustfundforvictims.org. You can also follow TFV’s activities on X, LinkedIn, and Facebook.
Background information
Voluntary contributions received by the Trust Fund for Victims ensured the completion of the first ever reparation programme for victims in the Katanga case in October 2023. Ongoing reparations are also being implemented in the Lubanga and Al Mahdi cases. Additionally, the TFV initiated the implementation of reparations for one group of victims in the Ntaganda case, who are also part of the Lubanga programme for former child soldiers, and preparing the reparations programme for a second group of victims of attacks in the Ntaganda case.
In June 2024, the TFV launched its First Funding Appeal of EUR 5 million in the Ongwen case to enable the implementation of the Trial Chamber’s EUR 52.4 million Reparations Order of 28 February 2024, which aims to benefit more than 40,000 victims. The Trust Fund for Victims seeks to mobilise at least EUR 5 million annually to progressively implement the Ongwen Reparations Order.
For 2024-2025, the TFV is also implementing other programmes for the benefit of victims in seven situations under the jurisdiction of the ICC, namely in the Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Georgia, Kenya, Mali and Uganda. These programmes provide medical treatment, psychological rehabilitation, socio-economic support, education, peacebuilding, and commemoration activities, in collaboration with local authorities and communities.
TFV Programmes for the benefit of victims of crimes under the jurisdiction of the ICC contribute to the broader impact of several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including peace, justice, and strong institutions (SDG 16), poverty reduction (SDG 1), good health and well-being (SDG 3), gender equality (SDG 5), decent work and economic growth (SDG 8), climate action (SDG 13), and reduced inequalities (SDG 10).
The Trust Fund for Victims at the ICC contributes to fulfil the principles of reparative justice established in the Rome Statute by implementing measures that recognise and redress the harm caused by genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and crimes of aggression on victims and their families.