The Victims Participation and Reparations Section ("VPRS") of the Registry is generally responsible for assisting victims with the process of applying to participate in ICC proceeding. In the present case, the Section assists victims already participating as well as those not yet participating but wishing to apply for reparations in the event of a conviction.

Please note the most recent key events in the case of relevance for victims:

• On 8 July 2020, Pre-Trial Chamber II authorized in the Abd-Al-Rahman Case the use of the standard victim application form you find further down on this site. This form allows for a victim to apply for reparations in case of a conviction of Mr Abd-Al-Rahman for harm resulting of the crimes subject to conviction.

• On 16 May 2023, Trial Chamber I (“Chamber”) authorised victims to submit their applications for participation in the proceedings to the Registry until 7 June 2023.

• The trial in the case opened before the Chamber on 5 April 2022, and the closing statements were delivered from 11-13 December 2024.

• The judgment of the Chamber will be pronounced in due course.

For more information on the Abd-Al-Rahman Case, please click here.

As the hearing phase is over, VPRS is no longer transmitting new application forms for participation to the Chamber in the trial proceedings of the case.

Independently from participation in the trial proceedings, victims can seek reparations for the harm that they have suffered subject to the charges in this case.

In the event that the Chamber enters a conviction against Mr Abd-Al-Rahman, the reparation phase of the proceedings will take place and be strictly limited to the crimes of which Mr Abd-Al-Rahman may be found guilty.

Reparations are measures ordered by judges to redress - to the extent possible - the suffering caused by the serious crimes that have been committed and recognized in the judgments of the ICC Chambers. These measures can take different forms, such as care, housing support, vocational training, symbolic measures or compensation (see article 75 of the Rome Statute).

Victims can still send application forms for reparations to the VPRS at the current stage; these will be processed in case of a conviction of the accused person.

Victims may use one of two forms, depending on their situation: one is for individuals and the other is for organizations. For the latter, please note that rule 85(b) of the Rules of Procedure and Evidence defines the organizations which may seek reparations as organizations or institutions that, as a result of crimes subject to a potential conviction, have sustained harm to property dedicated to certain purposes – religion, education, art, science or charitable and humanitarian purposes – or to their historic monuments or hospitals.

PDF versions of the two forms in French, English and Arabic are available for download below.

The VPRS also provides guidance on how to fill the forms, which is available for download below alongside the relevant form for reparations.

If you are interested in applying for reparations, please contact VPRS beforehand if possible. The form should ideally be filled with the assistance of persons who have been specially trained by VPRS, to ensure that the form is properly completed and that all the information necessary at this stage is provided.

When filling the form:

• Please read carefully the guidance available for download below. This is essential to ensuring that the form is complete, that all the required supporting documentation is provided and that the application can be processed swiftly.
• If possible, please fill the form in French, English or Arabic and be as specific and concise as you can.
• Completed forms together with copies of supporting documentation are to be sent to VPRS at the postal address below:
  
  International Criminal Court
  Victims Participation and Reparations Section
  PO Box 19519
  2500 CM, The Hague
  The Netherlands
   

• Victims may also send their application form for participation and/or reparations and related supporting documentation to the following email address: [email protected]

• Finally, victims can also complete the online form (links below) to request reparations.

Please contact VPRS at [email protected] for any questions relating to the filling of the victim application form and any related issue.

Please note that the purpose of the application form for participation in the proceedings and for reparations is NOT to provide evidence. The collection of evidence is not within the mandate of the VPRS, but that of the ICC Office of the Prosecutor (OTP). The OTP generally receives any relevant information that may be considered as evidence relating to crimes within the jurisdiction of the ICC at: [email protected], at any time.

For more general victim-related information in ICC proceedings please click here.