The Board of Directors of the Trust Fund for Victims (TFV) at the International Criminal Court (ICC) held its 26th meeting in The Hague from 19 to 22 June 2024.
In her opening statement, Minou Tavárez Mirabal, Chair of the TFV Board of Directors, reflected on the challenges faced by victims worldwide and on the obstacles for justice including reparations, and underscored the importance of dialogue and decisive collaboration around common objectives to build peace to protect the accomplishments of humanity. In this regard, she stated that "The Trust Fund for Victims shall be an agent to model such collaboration and decisiveness to contribute to global efforts in favour of the victims".
On this occasion, the Board of Directors engaged in comprehensive discussions concerning the Court-ordered reparations in particular of the Ongwen case, milestones related to the completion of the Katanga reparations programme and the Al Mahdi individual reparation award as well as outcomes of external evaluations on four programmes of the TFV. Following the TFV Appeal for Contributions which had been issued in November 2023, the Board also conducted a review of the plight of victims in nine situations where the TFV is not yet active: The situation in Afghanistan, Bangladesh/Myanmar, Burundi, Darfur (Sudan), Libya, State of Palestine, Republic of the Philippines, Venezuela and Ukraine.
The Board of Directors held a session with the Independent Oversight Mechanism (IOM) to review the status of prior issued recommendations in relation to the Secretariat of the TFV. Also, at its meeting the Board considered strategies to improve TFV's visibility and mobilize resources for the benefit of victims. The Board also considered the 2025 proposed budget for the TFV Secretariat taking into account risks and opportunities at the HQ level and country offices. Strengthening the TFV Secretariat including staff engagement and well-being were also discussed.
The Board reiterated its commitment to aligning efforts and enhancing collaboration on victim support mechanisms within the Rome Statute system. During the visit to The Hague, The Board conducted key stakeholders consultations to strengthen collaboration and garner further support for the TFV's initiatives. For this, as part of its official agenda, the Board of Directors met with the ICC President Tomoko Akane, the Second Vice-President Reine Alapini-Gansou and the ICC Registrar, Osvaldo Zavala Giler.
Also, the Board of Directors held an informal exchanges with Judges of the Court, with legal representatives of victims in ongoing trial and reparations proceedings, including the Office of Public Counsel for the Victims, and with the Registry, in particular the Victims Participation and Reparations section and the Public Information and Outreach Section.
In parallel to its official agenda, Board members also engaged in dialogue with regional groups of States Parties and civil society organisations.
At its closing, the Board of Directors of the Trust Fund for Victims at the ICC extended its gratitude to all stakeholders, partners, and donors for their unwavering support. The collaborative efforts and contributions of these dedicated individuals and organizations are crucial in making a significant impact on the lives of victims.
Background Information
The Board of Directors of the TFV is the governing body providing strategic direction and oversight of the Fund and of the activities of its Secretariat, The Board comprises five members each representing the regions of the Assembly of States Parties. Since its election in 2021, the Board has conducted 26 meetings both in-person and virtually.
The current members of the TFV Board of Directors (2021-2024) are:
- Chair, Minou Tavárez Mirabal (Dominican Republic)
- Vice Chair, Ibrahim Yillah (Sierra Leone)
- Sheikh Mohammed Belal (Bangladesh)
- Andres Parmas (Estonia)
- Kevin Kelly (Ireland)
The Trust Fund for Victims at the ICC is one of the pillars of reparative justice of the Rome Statute, contributing to realizing the right of reparations for victims-encompassing restitution, compensation, and rehabilitation. Initiatives extend to victims and families within the ICC's jurisdiction.
