TFV Executive Director received Ms. Jolie Pitt in front of the International Criminal Court building. Photography Mr. Pieter de Baan.
Angelina Jolie Pitt returned yesterday to the International Criminal Court to visit the Trust Fund for Victims, which helps victim survivors of international war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The meeting, Ms. Jolie Pitt’s fifth to the International Criminal Court, took place at the newly inaugurated ICC building in The Hague, which was officially opened by His Majesty King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands on 19 April 2016.
During her visit, Ms. Jolie Pitt talked with the Trust Fund staff about the difficulties faced by survivors. Ms. Jolie Pitt also discussed the impact that the Trust Fund’s assistance makes in allowing survivors to regain their dignity and rebuild their lives within their communities.
Following her meeting with the Trust Fund Ms. Jolie Pitt said, “There can be no complete justice without consideration for the victims of the war crimes themselves, and the practical assistance they need to move on with their lives and overcome the harm they have suffered. That is why the work of the Trust Fund is important and must be supported and strengthened over time.”
Currently, over 180,000 victim survivors have benefited from the Trust Fund’s assistance mandate – including access to reproductive health services, vocational training, trauma-based counseling, reconciliation workshops, reconstructive surgery and more.
The Trust Fund for Victim is at the forefront of the global movement to end impunity for sexual violence and gender-based crimes by addressing the needs of those who have suffered and survived these crimes. Ms. Jolie Pitt discussed with the Board the importance of practical assistance to victim survivors of SGBV, and the special vulnerability of girls and women as key steps toward ending impunity for perpetrators and establishing durable peace and reconciliation in conflict settings.
Mr. Motoo Noguchi, previous international judge of the Supreme Court Chamber at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC, 2006-2012) and the current Chair of the TFV Board, said, “The TFV works to ensure that victims survivors and the affected communities within the jurisdiction of the Court are recognized and will be supported in their efforts to overcome their harm and regain their full and dignified lives. On behalf of the Trust Fund Board of Directors, I greatly appreciate the interest and support of Ms. Jolie Pitt to highlight the importance of justice to be meaningful for victim survivors.”
Trust Fund for Victims (TFV)
In 2002, the Rome Statute came into effect and the Assembly of States Parties established the The Trust Fund for Victims (TFV) to benefit victims of crimes and their families within the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC). These crimes are genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes – and in the future, crimes of aggression.
With the unique roles of implementing both Court-ordered and general assistance to victims of crimes under the ICC’s jurisdiction, TFV offers key advantages for promoting lasting peace, reconciliation, and wellbeing in war-torn societies. The TFV fulfils two mandates:
- Reparations: implementing Court-ordered reparations awards against a convicted person when directed by the Court to do so.
- General Assistance: using voluntary contributions from donors to provide victims survivors and their families in situations where the Court is active with physical rehabilitation, material support, and/or psychological rehabilitation.
The assistance mandate of the TFV is distinct from reparations before the ICC or the payment of compensation to victims. The TFV assistance programme provides a broad range of medical and psychological rehabilitation services for injured and traumatized victims.
Since 2008 the Trust Fund for Victims (TFV) has been delivering assistance and rehabilitation to victims under the assistance mandate across 18 districts in Northern Uganda, and 3 provinces in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, by providing the physical, psychological, or material needs of the often forgotten survivors. The TFV works closely with NGOs, community groups, women’s grassroots organizations, governments, and UN agencies at local, national, and international levels.
Assistance Mandate
Under the assistance mandate, the TFV may provide three forms of support:
Physical rehabilitation: include reconstructive and general surgery, bullet and bomb fragment removal, prosthetic and orthopedic devices, and referrals to medical services for victims of sexual violence.
Psychological rehabilitation: addresses the individual psychological consequences and trauma arising from war, conflict, sexual violence, and other crimes. TFV is also promoting healing at affected communities to reduce stigmatization of victim survivors and promote a greater sense of trust, shared responsibility, and peaceful coexistence among community members.
Material support is provided to improve the economic status of victim survivors through education, economic development, rebuilding of community infrastructure, support for village savings and loans, and creation of employment opportunities.
There are currently 9 situations before the ICC, in Northern Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Darfur, Central African Republic (CAR), Kenya, Libya and Cote d’Ivoire, Palestine Territories and Georgia.
For additional information: http://www.trustfundforvictims.org/
