Information for victims

The Prosecutor v. Bosco Ntaganda

Procedural Background

On 8 July 2019, Trial Chamber VI of the International Criminal Court (ICC) found Mr Bosco Ntaganda guilty, beyond reasonable doubt, of 18 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, committed in Ituri, Democratic Republic of Congo, in 2002-2003. In this context, the Chamber found Mr Ntaganda guilty of crimes against humanity (murder and attempted murder, rape, sexual slavery, persecution, forcible transfer and deportation) and war crimes (murder and attempted murder, intentionally directing attacks against civilians, rape, sexual slavery, ordering the displacement of the civilian population, conscripting and enlisting children under the age of 15 years into an armed group and using them to participate actively in hostilities, intentionally directing attacks against protected objects, and destroying the adversary’s property).

On 7 November 2019, Mr Ntaganda was sentenced to a total of 30 years of imprisonment.

In the Reparations Order, issued on 8 March 2021 (by Trial Chamber VI) and its addendum, issued on 14 July 2023, Trial Chamber II assessed the amount of Mr Ntaganda’s liability for reparations to victims at USD 31,300,000. They also found Mr Ntaganda to be indigent and ordered the reparations to be implemented by the Trust Fund for Victims.

The ICC Judges further instructed the Trust Fund for Victims (“TFV”) to design a plan to provide to victims collective reparations with individualised components. The Judges decided that the modalities of reparations for victims may include measures of restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, and satisfaction, which may incorporate, when appropriate, a symbolic, preventative, or transformative value. The Judges however highlighted that it is possible that not all the modalities outlined above may ultimately be included in such a plan.

The Judges also noted that priority shall be given to individuals who require immediate medical and psychological care, victims with disabilities and the elderly, victims of sexual or gender-based violence, victims who are homeless or experiencing financial hardship, as well as children born out of rape and sexual slavery, and former child soldiers.

Subsequently, by a decision dated 11 August 2023, Trial Chamber II mandated the Registry’s Victims Participation and Reparations Section (“VPRS”) to identify potential beneficiaries of reparations, collect their information and issue determinations on their eligibility for reparations, pursuant to the eligibility criteria enounced in the Reparations Order and the addendum. The VPRS has until 31 December 2025 to identify all the beneficiaries and issue the eligibility determinations.

Application for reparations

Individuals who have suffered harm as a result of any of the crimes for which Mr Bosco Ntaganda has been convicted at the ICC and who wish to submit an application for reparations can do so by completing an application form for reparations specific to the Ntaganda case (see the link below). The application form has been designed to collect all the relevant information necessary for the application to be considered complete. Once the VPRS receives the application, the VPRS will register all the information in its database and store the documents securely and confidentially. It will analyse its content and determine the applicant’s eligibility for reparations. The Judges will take a final decision on each applicant’s eligibility.

The application form for reparations for individuals in the Ntaganda proceedings is available here.

A specific reparation application form for organizations whose property dedicated to certain purposes - religion, education, art, science or charitable and humanitarian purposes, or historic monuments or hospitals - has been harmed as a result of crimes committed by Mr Ntaganda will be made available shortly. Similarly, a link to an online application tool will be available soon.

The application form for reparations should ideally be filled in with the assistance of persons who have been trained by the VPRS, to ensure that the form is complete and that all the required information is entered correctly.

Completing an application form for reparations is voluntary and the process of applying - including all relevant forms and information materials - is free of charge.

Since the VPRS has until 31 December 2025 to identify beneficiaries and issue determinations on their eligibility, anyone interested to submit an application for reparations to the VPRS should do so as soon as possible in order to maximize the chances that the application is received and processed by the VPRS on time to meet the 31 December 2025 deadline.

Any person interested in applying for reparations in the Ntaganda case, or interested to assist a victim who wishes to apply for reparations, is strongly advised to first contact the VPRS at  [email protected], who can provide assistance and answer any question.