The International Criminal Court (ICC)
The Statute of the ICC recognises victims’ rights to physical and psychological protection and support. It also enables victims affected by the Court’s work to participate in Court proceedings – not only as witnesses for the prosecution, but as independent stakeholders with a recognised right to present their views and concerns. Equally, the ICC Statute provides an opportunity for victims to apply for reparations to the Court and to benefit from a specially designated trust fund.
After successfully advocating for these key provisions to be included in the core mandate of the Court, REDRESS’ work has shifted focus to implementation:
- REDRESS assists NGOs who work with victims of conflict to enable victims to engage with the Court.
- We provide regular advice and suggestions to ICC officials on the implementation of the victims’ mandate. During the year, we provided input on the ICC’s Strategic Plan as it related to victims, the Registry’s plans for common legal representatives and contributed to discussions on proposed amendments to the system of legal aid. Also, we participated in discussions on the Court’s treatment of ‘intermediaries’ – mainly local civil society groups working to facilitate the Court’s access to victims and other stakeholders on the ground.
- We are working closely with civil society groups in many of the countries under scrutiny by the Court: Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Sudan and Uganda. Our collaboration with these groups is intended to facilitate and enable the perspectives from the field to be taken on board by the ICC in The Hague, and to encourage the effective participation of victims in proceedings. In the course of the year, we have undertaken extensive outreach and training with victims’ communities in Uganda and DRC and collaborated closely with lawyers and civil society groups.
- REDRESS coordinates the Victims’ Rights Working Group, a network of over 350 national and international civil society groups and experts created in 1997 under the auspices of the NGO Coalition for the International Criminal Court. It was created by a number of international NGOs and experts and over the years has evolved to include NGOs from many countries around the world including those countries most intimately affected by the ICC. The Group and its member organisations continue to issue position and background papers, participating in all key meetings with the Court and the Assembly of States Parties.
Our most recent reports on the ICC:
- May 2011, REDRESS - Justice for Victims: The ICC's Reparations Mandate
- English
- March 2011, REDRESS - Reconciling Entitlements and Feasibility in Implementing ICC Reparations:REDRESS presentation to Board of Directors of the ICC Trust Fund for Victims Annual Board Meeting 21 March 2011
- English
- October 2010, VRWG - Paper on Victims and Affected Communities: Incorporating the Review Conference 'stocktaking' Recommendations into the ICC's Strategies
- April 2010, VRWG, The Impact of the Rome Statute System on Victims and Affected Communities
- November 2009, REDRESS, Victims' central role in fulfilling the ICC's mandate - English - Français
- February 2009, VRWG, Comments on the Role and Relationship of ‘Intermediaries' with the International Criminal Court - English - Français
For more information, see:
- The Website of the Victims’ Rights Working Group (www.vrwg.org), a website dedicated to victims’ rights at the ICC, coordinated by REDRESS
