UK donates GBP 250,000 to the Trust Fund for Victims
On 29 September 2017, through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, a State Party to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and an important long-time supporter of the Trust Fund for Victims (TFV), announced a second voluntary contribution of GBP 250,000. The first contribution this year of GBP 150,000 was made in April 2017.
This donation will enable the TFV to continue its assistance programme activities to provide support to victims of crimes against humanity and war crimes. The TFV will use the funds to support medical assistance and psychological rehabilitation projects in northern Uganda from September 2017 until April 2018.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, UK Prime Minister's Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict and Minister of State for the Commonwealth and the UN at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office said, "I am delighted to announce the UK has contributed £250,000 to the ICC Trust Fund for Victims. The UK is very proud to support the Fund which makes a vital difference in helping the victims of atrocities rebuild their lives."
Welcoming another contribution from the TFV's second largest contributor, Executive Director Pieter de Baan said: "This donation from the United Kingdom will permit the TFV to strengthen our ongoing assistance projects for victims in Uganda. The Trust Fund's work could not be realized without the financial commitment of key supporters. We welcome the continued generosity of the United Kingdom.
The Trust Fund was created to provide assistance (physical rehabilitation, psychological rehabilitation, and material support) to victims and their families in ICC situation countries and to implement Court-ordered reparations to victims. The Trust Fund plays an integral role in making a reality the ICC's unique promise of reparative justice to victims. Its resources come mainly from voluntary contributions from States Parties. The TFV needs adequate resources for its assistance mandate activities and to complement Court-ordered reparations awards to victims. Since 2008, the TFV has assisted over 45,000 direct victims and over 200,000 indirect beneficiaries, such as family members of victims and community members in 18 districts of Northern Uganda.
Baroness Arminka Helić, Member of the Trust Fund for Victims Board of Directors, welcomed the UK contribution. She said: "I am grateful to the UK government for continuing its support for the ICC Trust Fund for Victims, and for helping to enable justice and reparations for survivors. Support for the ICC is an essential step in eroding the culture of impunity for war crimes and crimes against humanity that currently persists in many parts of the world."
The United Kingdom has donated about EUR 3,77 Million to the Trust Fund for Victims since 2004.
For more information, visit: www.trustfundforvictims.org, or contact: [email protected]