Japan provides a contribution to the Trust Fund for Victims at the ICC to support survivors of sexual and gender-based violence

The Trust Fund for Victims (TFV) at the International Criminal Court (ICC) welcomes the voluntary contribution of EUR 43,000 received from Japan, a State Party to the ICC. The contribution from Japan will help recognise the rights and respond to the harm suffered by survivors of sexual and gender-based violence through TFV programmes that provide medical treatment, trauma counselling, education, and socio-economic support as well as addressing new masculinities to enhance familial and societal reconciliation. Such programmes are being implemented in the situations in Central African Republic (I and II), Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Georgia, Kenya, Mali, and Uganda.

In welcoming this contribution, H.E. Sheikh Mohammed Belal, member of the TFV Board of Directors Board said, "The support of the Government of Japan, the top contributor of the ICC is critical to the TFV relentless efforts to help massive number of survivors of crimes under the jurisdiction of the Court restore their hope and dignity and rebuild their lives.”

H.E. Hiroshi Minami, Ambassador of Japan to the Kingdom of the Netherlands said, “Japan has been a staunch supporter of the ICC and in this context, we are pleased to have supported the Trust Fund for Victims in its activities for victims of sexual and gender-based violence for many years. Japan places great importance on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) and we will continue our support for victims of sexual and gender-based crimes”.

Since 2004, the TFV has received over EUR 53 million from 51 States Parties and private individuals. In 2023, the TFV received EUR 5,3 million, which is the highest since 2004 when the TFV started receiving voluntary contributions. Japan, a state party to the Rome Statute since 1 October 2007, has provided voluntary contributions to the TFV regularly since 2014. 

To date, more than 3,100 victims have received reparations from three cases and over 26,000 individuals directly benefitted from seven programmes of the TFV.

Voluntary funding received by the Trust Fund for Victims has allowed the completion of the first judicial cycle of the ICC, with the finalisation of the reparation programme for victims in the Katanga case. The TFV continues implementing reparation programmes for victims of crimes against humanity and war crimes in the cases of Lubanga, Al Mahdi, and Ntaganda. The TFV will be developing a draft implementation plan for reparations in the Ongwen case, following the Reparations Order by the ICC Trial Chamber on 28 February 2024.

The TFV is also implementing other programs for the benefit of victims through the provision of medical treatment, psychological rehabilitation, socio-economic support, education, peacebuilding, and commemoration activities with collaboration from local authorities and local communities. These programs 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. 

The Trust Fund for Victims at the ICC is one of the pillars of reparative justice of the Rome Statute which contributes to realising the right of reparations for victims—encompassing restitution, compensation, and rehabilitation. Initiatives extend to victims and families within the Court's jurisdiction.

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.