The role and mandates of the icc trust fund for victims

Abstract

The chapter provides a brief overview of the mandates and role of the Trust Fund for Victims as an unprecedented sui generis mechanism in the context of transitional justice. It elaborates on how the interplay between its two mandates make it a key element of the Rome Statute system that can add in an important way to its success in the eyes of victims and the international community as a whole. In particular, it will provide examples of how the activities it supports enable the empowerment of victims with a view to reintegrating them back into society and promoting reconciliation. The chapter will also highlight some of the challenges still ahead, including first and foremost the Trust Fund’s dependency on long-term financial and political support from States, civil society, victims’ groups and individuals. Such support will be essential if the Trust Fund is to reach its full potential and set an inspirational example for how a victims-centred approach to transitional justice can function.