Germany contributes to realising reparative justice for the victims of the Al Mahdi case
The Trust Fund for Victims (TFV) at the International Criminal Court (ICC) is pleased to announce that the Federal Republic of Germany, a State Party to the ICC since 2000, has made a voluntary contribution of EUR 150,000 to the TFV. This contribution is earmarked to support Court-ordered reparations, which was allocated to the reparations programme in the Al Mahdi case. The funds will be used to provide individual and collective psychological support to victims, facilitate community dialogues, and implement memorialisation measures to honour the victims in the case who are affected by the destruction of mausoleums in Timbuktu.
H.E. Mr Kevin Kelly, member of the TFV Board of Directors welcomed the contribution and stated, “We highly appreciate Germany’s generous contribution and continued support to the Trust Fund for Victims. In times when international justice faces significant challenges, such contributions are crucial than ever in upholding the mission of the ICC and ensuring victims receive the reparations they urgently need. This partnership is instrumental in advancing reparative justice and reinforcing global support for accountability and the rule of law."
H.E. Dr. Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Kingdom of the Netherlands stated, “Germany is a longstanding and strong supporter of the International Criminal Court. It supports the work of the Trust Fund for Victims, recognising its vital role, which contributes to redressing the harm suffered by victims of Rome Statute crimes. Through this contribution, Germany hopes to help address some of the economic and moral harm that residents of Timbuktu and its community have suffered as victims as victims of these serious war crimes, reaffirming its dedication to accountability and the rule of law.”
Germany has been providing regular support to the TFV through voluntary contributions since 2006.
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, Bluesky and Facebook.
Background information about the Trust Fund for Victims
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 is actively implementing 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. By the end of 2024, around 3,800 individual victims have received or are continuing to receive reparations. In addition, the TFV implemented numerous collective-based reparations awards in the Lubanga and the Al Mahdi cases, which benefited over 70,000 persons, notably in Timbuktu in relation to the Al Mahdi 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. These programmes have directly benefited over 18,500 individuals in 2024, of which close to 13,000, or 69 per cent, were women.
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 fulfill 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.