The Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, has today met with the Chair of the Board of Directors of the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) Trust Fund, Minou Tavárez Mirabal, and has signed an agreement to formalise the two million euros contribution for the International Criminal Court’s Trust Fund for Victims (TFV).
Of this contribution, which represents the third largest individual contribution ever given to the TFV, one million will go to the Lubanga Reparations Programme and will ensure that all remaining former child soldiers (in this case of 2,471 eligible beneficiaries) receive the reparations ordered by the ICC in this case involving the recruitment, conscription and use of child soldiers under the age of 15.
This contribution is an indication of the priority that Spain gives to the protection of children in armed conflict and its commitment to justice, reparation and reintegration of all victims of crimes under ICC jurisdiction.
A total of €750,000 will be used to fund a future assistance programme for victims of the Ukraine war, including consultations with key stakeholders in designing this programme.
€250,000 will also be used to fund future victim assistance programmes, including consultations with key stakeholders in designing such programmes, in situations where the ICC has jurisdiction but the TFV is not yet active. The situations in question are Afghanistan, Bangladesh/Myanmar, Burundi, Darfur (Sudan), Libya, the State of Palestine, the Republic of the Philippines and Venezuela.
“More necessary than ever"
Regarding the contribution to the Fund, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation noted that “Spain strongly supports the work of the Trust Fund for Victims, more necessary than ever in light of the proliferation of conflict and growing humanitarian needs. This contribution aims to provide reparation and ensure reintegration for all victims of international crimes, including vulnerable groups such as children in armed conflict. Assistance to victims has always been one of our foreign policy priorities”.
In welcoming this contribution, the Chair of the Board of Directors of the TFV stated that “we extend our deepest gratitude to Spain for significantly increasing its support to the Trust Fund for Victims this year. This generous contribution shows a commitment to redressing the harm suffered by victims of Rome Statute crimes and sets a remarkable example for other States. It demonstrates a victim-centred policy that allows for the implementation of programmes for victims in cases sentenced by the ICC, and in situations where investigations or judicial proceedings are ongoing.”
Background and context
Spain, a State Party to the Rome Statute since 24 October 2000, has regularly provided voluntary contributions to the TFV since 2006. In 2023, it provided the TFV with a general contribution of €250,000. In 2024, Spain is participating in the ICC Junior Professional Officer Programme, funding several positions, including one in the Trust Fund for Victims.
With the voluntary funding for the Trust Fund for Victims, the ICC's first judicial cycle was fully concluded in October 2023 with the completion of the reparations programme for Katanga case victims. The TFV plans to complete, by 2026, the reparations programmes for victims of crimes against humanity and war crimes in the Al Mahdi and Lubanga cases, and to begin, as soon as resources are available, the programmes for victims in the Ntaganda and Ongwen cases.
By the end of 2023, more than 3,100 victims found eligible by the ICC had received reparations in three cases, in which the ICC ordered a convicted person to provide reparations to victims. Regarding assistance for victims, in 2023 alone, over 26,000 individuals benefited directly from seven TFV programmes.
The ICC Trust Fund for Victims is one of the pillars of restorative justice in the Rome Statute. It helps to ensure victims' right to reparation, including restitution, compensation and rehabilitation. The initiatives extend to victims and their families within the ICC's jurisdiction.
-NON OFFICIAL TRANSLATION-