ICC - Discours du Président Philippe Kirsch à l’occasion de la réunion du Conseil de direction du Fonds pour les victimes

Discours du Président Philippe Kirsch à l’occasion de la réunion du Conseil de direction du Fonds pour les victimes

ICC-CPI-20040420-51

Please be seated.

Your Majesty, Excellencies, Madame la Ministre, distinguished members of the Board of Directors of the Trust Fund for Victims. On this historic first meeting of the Board, I extend to you a warm welcome to the seat of the Court. Unfortunately, as a result of an unavoidable conflict, His Excellency Dr. Oscar Arias Sanchez is unable to be with us for this meeting. His Eminence Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who could not be here today, will join us later on in the meeting.

The constitution of your Board was the final step in a process of elections undertaken by the Assembly of States Parties to complete the justice system set out in the Rome Statute. Each of us - my fellow judges, the Prosecutor, the Registrar and I - know from direct experience over the past year the immense challenge you now face of having to give life to the provisions and guidelines which have been given to us by the States Parties. Hence, our welcome to you comes with a deep understanding of the huge tasks that lie ahead.

Among the many innovations of the Rome Statute, the place it has given to victims of international crimes is often brought forward as its most unique feature.

Pour la toute première fois dans l’histoire, il est permis aux victimes des crimes les plus atroces connus de l’humanité d’accéder à une cour pénale internationale afin d’exprimer leurs témoignages en leur propre nom. Pour la toute première fois dans l’histoire une possibilité existe de recours contre les injustices qui ont été commises grâce à une demande en réparation à l’encontre de la personne condamnée par une cour pénale internationale, y compris une possibilité de demander restitution, indemnisation et réhabilitation.

Les réparations visent à soulager la souffrance des victimes et à permettre que justice leur soit faite, non seulement au moyen de la condamnation de l’auteur d’un crime par la Cour, mais également par la réparation, dans la mesure du possible, des conséquences des génocides, des crimes contre l’humanité et des crimes de guerre à l’égard des victimes. L’existence du Fonds au profit des victimes contribuera à nous rapprocher de cet objectif principalement par la mise en œuvre des ordonnances en réparation de la Cour.

The tasks you face are challenging. The Registrar of the Court, Mr. Bruno Cathala, will indicate some of the issues which the Trust Fund will have to deal with in order to make it the effective functioning body which we all hope it will become. By way of a broad outline, it will be necessary, in particular, to establish effective procedures and policies to deal with the receipt of monies into the Trust Fund and to make operational the general framework for the Fund set out in the Rome Statute.

We have no doubt that a Board consisting of such distinguished members as yourselves will succeed in meeting these challenges. We are all looking forward to the results of a fruitful exchange of views amongst the members of the Board. The Registrar of the Court will be working closely with you in the coming days. More generally, the Court as a whole is at your disposal to assist you in any way that you may find useful.

We are proud and honoured to have the eminent members of the Trust Fund come together at the seat of the Court to work towards an operational and effective Trust Fund for Victims that is such an integral part of this Court.  We wish you every success in your important endeavour. 

It now gives me great pleasure to invite Prince Zeid to take the floor.

Thank you very much.