The Diplomat
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, held a meeting yesterday in Madrid with the president of the Board of Directors of the Trust Fund of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Minou Tavárez Mirabal, with whom he signed an agreement to formalize a contribution of two million euros to the Trust Fund for Victims (TFV) of this court.
This is the third largest individual contribution ever given to the TFV. Half of this amount, one million euros, will be dedicated to the Lubanga Reparations Program and will help almost 2,500 former child soldiers receive reparations ordered by the ICC in this case, which involves recruitment, conscription and the use of child soldiers under 15 years of age.
Separately, 750,000 euros will be used to finance a future assistance program for victims of the war in Ukraine, including consultations with interested parties in the design of such a program. In addition, another €250,000 will fund future victim assistance programs in situations where the ICC has jurisdiction, but where the TFV is not yet active: Afghanistan, Bangladesh/Myanmar, Burundi, Darfur (Sudan), Libya , State of Palestine, Republic of the Philippines and Venezuela.
After signing the agreement, the Minister of Foreign Affairs noted that "Spain firmly supports the work of the Trust Fund for Victims, more necessary than ever in light of the proliferation of conflicts and growing humanitarian needs." “This contribution aims to provide reparation and assistance to all victims of international crimes, including vulnerable groups such as children in armed conflict. Assistance to victims has always been one of the priorities of our foreign policy,” he added.
For her part, the president of the TFV Board of Directors expressed her “deepest gratitude to Spain for significantly increasing its support for the Trust Fund for Victims this year.” “This generous contribution demonstrates a commitment to remedying the harm suffered by victims of Rome Statute crimes and sets a notable example for other States,” she continued.
Spain, a State party to the Rome Statute since October 24, 2000, has regularly provided voluntary contributions to the TFV since 2006. In 2023, it provided the FFBV with a general contribution of 250,000 euros. In 2024, Spain participates in the Junior Professional Officers Program at the ICC, funding several positions, including one in the Trust Fund for Victims.
The ICC Trust Fund for Victims is one of the pillars of the Rome Statute's restorative justice. It contributes to the realization of victims' right to reparation, which includes restitution, compensation and rehabilitation. The initiatives extend to victims and their families within the jurisdiction of the ICC. In 2023 alone, more than 26,000 individuals directly benefited from seven TFV programs.
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