ICC Trust Fund for Victims issues its First Urgent Funding Appeal of EUR 5 million to launch a reparations program for victims of Dominic Ongwen
The Trust Fund for Victims (TFV) at the International Criminal Court (ICC) has urgently called on States, organizations, corporations, members, and private individuals to contribute EUR 5 million to initiate the delivery of reparations, in accordance with the ICC judges’ decision in the Reparations Order. This appeal is crucial for providing immediate voluntary contributions to support victims of sexual and gender-based violence, former child soldiers, and those affected by attacks on four internally displaced persons camps in the case of *The Prosecutor v. Dominic Ongwen*.
The TFV Board of Directors launched its First Ongwen Funding Appeal during its 26th meeting held in The Hague from 19 to 21 June 2024. At this meeting, the Board deliberated on a fundraising strategy to implement the Trial Chamber’s EUR 52.4 million Reparations Order, issued on 28 February 2024, which aims to benefit over 40,000 victims.
The EUR 5 million appeal is intended to address the urgent needs and vulnerabilities of the victims, as prioritized in the Reparations Order. The reparations include symbolic payments, rehabilitation measures, and other symbolic and satisfaction measures. Once this initial funding appeal is met, the TFV plans to mobilize at least EUR 5 million annually to progressively implement the Ongwen Reparations Order. Future appeals from the Board of Directors will focus on activities to be approved by the Chamber.
Currently, the TFV Secretariat is in its fifth week of victim-centered, participatory consultations with over 2,000 potentially eligible victims from the attacks on camps in Abok, Lukodi, Odek, and Pajule, as well as victims of sexual and gender-based violence and former child soldiers abducted from across northern Uganda.
These consultations, conducted in collaboration with local communities, civil society groups, and other stakeholders, are crucial in ensuring that the needs and concerns of the victims and survivors are at the heart of the Draft Implementation Plan for the Ongwen Reparations Programme. This plan is scheduled for submission to the Chamber for approval on 3 September 2024.
Survivors participating in the consultations have welcomed the Court’s recognition of their suffering and have emphasized the significant impact that reparations will have on their health, livelihood, overall well-being, and healing.
