The Trust Fund for Victims (TFV) at the International Criminal Court (ICC) received a contribution of €560,000 from Sweden through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). This marks the final instalment of a multi-annual grant agreement between the ICC/TFV and Sida for the period of 2023-2025, totaling SEK 13,9 million (approximately €1,2 million). The agreement, which provides unrestricted contributions to the TFV from the Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget of Sweden, contributes to the development and resilience of individuals and communities affected by crimes against humanity and war crimes.
H.E. Kevin Kelly, member of the TFV Board of Directors welcomed the contribution and stated, “Sweden’s longstanding commitment to the rights and dignity of victims of Rome Statute crimes exemplifies the spirit of international solidarity and shared responsibility. At a time when the global justice system faces increasing pressure, Sweden’s contribution remains essential to assert the contribution of reparative justice, to peace and development.”
H.E. Johannes Oljelund, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden to the Kingdom of the Netherlands stated, “Sweden has supported the ICC Trust Fund for Victims (TFV) since 2011 and has been the largest donor to the TFV for many years. Justice and reparations are core elements of the Rome Statute. By our continued support to the Trust Fund for Victims, Sweden reaffirms its ongoing commitment to the victims of the most serious crimes. Reparative justice for victims and their families is a cornerstone of the Rome Statute and the international justice system. Only through engagement with affected communities, through reparations and assistance, can lasting peace be achieved. Peace is built, not given.”
Sweden, through the contributions by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) is the TFV’s largest donor to date, having provided, since 2006, over €12,3 million or 22% of the total voluntary contributions received by the TFV from the ICC States Parties and private individuals. Thanks to the support from donors like Sweden, around 185,000 victims have benefitted directly from the TFV’s rehabilitation and reparations programmes since 2008.
The partnership of the TFV with Sida has also contributed to enhance the capacity of the TFV to mainstream gender and intersectional approaches, to articulate the development outcomes of programmes for the benefit of victims, and to enhance the TFV's standards of management, transparency, and risk management.
For more information about the Trust Fund for Victims, please contact [email protected] or visit www.trustfundforvictims.org. You can also follow TFV’s activities on X, LinkedIn, Bluesky, and Facebook.
Background information about the Trust Fund for Victims
Voluntary contributions received by the Trust Fund for Victims ensured the completion of the first ever reparation programme for victims in the Katanga case in October 2023. Ongoing reparations are also being implemented in the Lubanga and Al Mahdi cases. Additionally, the TFV is actively implementing reparations for one group of victims in the Ntaganda case, who are also part of the Lubanga programme for former child soldiers. The TFV appeals states parties and other entities for contributions that can assist the delivery of reparations to victims in dire needs in relation to the Ntaganda and Ongwen cases.
Contributions to the Trust Fund for Victims qualify as Official Development Assistance (ODA)-eligible. TFV programmes for the benefit of victims of crimes under the jurisdiction of the ICC contribute to the broader impact of several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including peace, justice, and strong institutions (SDG 16), poverty reduction (SDG 1), good health and well-being (SDG 3), gender equality (SDG 5), decent work and economic growth (SDG 8), reduced inequalities (SDG 10) and climate action (SDG 13).
