Portugal sends an important message of support for reparative justice with a new contribution to the Trust Fund for Victims
The Trust Fund for Victims (TFV) at the International Criminal Court (ICC) is pleased to announce that Portugal, a State Party to the ICC since 2002, has made a voluntary contribution of EUR 15,000 to the TFV. This unrestricted contribution will support efforts to redress the harm suffered by victims of Rome Statute crimes through implementation of reparations awards ordered by the ICC and other programmes aimed at their rehabilitation and well-being.
H.E. Mr Kevin Kelly, member of the TFV Board of Directors welcomed the contribution and stated, “Portugal’s contribution to the Trust Fund for Victims underscores its steadfast commitment to justice, accountability, and the principle of reparation enshrined in the Rome Statute. By standing with survivors and victims, Portugal strengthens global efforts to restore dignity, resilience, and hope to those who have suffered unimaginable harm.”
H.E. Ms Clara Nunes dos Santos, Ambassador of Portugal to the Kingdom of the Netherlands stated, “Portugal is honoured to support the Trust Fund for Victims through its contributions. Victims of the most serious crimes and the affected communities are at the heart of the International Criminal Court’s work. The ICC’s role in preventing conflicts as well as protecting human rights is undeniable and must be safeguarded, and any interference on the Court and on its staff cannot be accepted. Portugal remains a strong supporter and defender of the ICC and of international justice as a means to end impunity and deliver justice to victims.”
Portugal has been providing regular support to the TFV through voluntary contributions since 2017.
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.