This week, GRC’s Gender and Child Justice Division contributed to the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) ongoing review of its 2012 Victims Strategy. This consultation process is a vital opportunity to contribute insights and identify areas for improvement within the ICC.
Our submission identified several issues and proposed actions to be undertaken, including:
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- Broaden Victim Participation:
- Provide a wider understanding of ‘victimhood’.
- Recognize victims are experts of their own experience and ensure their voices are integral from the preliminary examination stage.
- Involve victims in the imposition of reparations to ensure they are meaningful and provide a sense of justice.
- Enhance Legal Representation:
- Enhance the ability of victims to choose legal representatives, and ensure legal representatives have the resources and capacity to provide effective representation.
- Develop clear guidelines to provide more legal certainty regarding victims’ participation rights in all stages, including preliminary examination.
- Implement Trauma-Informed Practices:
- Collaborate with local and grassroot organizations and encourage the development of self-help groups and leverage community resources to provide comprehensive support to victims.
- Train staff on the prevalence and impact of trauma, how to foster trust and predictability in interactions with victims and how to recognize and respect cultural differences and background.
- Encourage staff to prioritise self-care and wellbeing and put in place support.
- Adopt a Child-Centered Approach:
- Prioritise the rights and safety of child victims and promote the participation and agency of children.
- Develop specific strategies for engaging child victims, recognizing them as independent rights holders and ensuring their participation is safe and supportive.
- Train staff on child development, impact of trauma on children and how to interact with children.
- Broaden Victim Participation:
“Engaging child victims in justice processes requires a careful, child-centered approach that respects their unique needs and rights. Our focus is on ensuring that the ICC develops strategies that allow children to participate in ways that are safe, supportive, and reflective of their experiences.” – emphasised Ruby Axelson, Head of the Gender and Child Justice Division.
“Our contribution to the ICC’s Victims Strategy review underscores the importance of recognising victims as experts of their own experiences. By expanding victim participation and ensuring trauma-informed practices, we can create a system that not only delivers justice but also acknowledges the diverse and profound impacts of victimisation. It ensures that victims il all their diversity are integral and active participants in the justice process that also becomes transformative.” – stated Karine Ardault, Lead of the Ukraine SGBV Mobile Justice Team.
Regular evaluation and consultation will be essential for adapting the Strategy to evolving needs. GRC is committed to providing continued support to the ICC in the future.
Background: The Assembly of State Parties requested the ICC to update its strategy in relation to victims to align with the evolving needs and challenges they face. Following the considerations of the Independent Expert Review and the Independent Oversight Mechanism, the scope of the Updated Revised Strategy 2024 will encompass a comprehensive examination of organizational processes and their relevance, coherence, reach, accessibility, effectiveness, efficiency, and gender sensitivity to facilitate victims’ participation in relevant Court activities.
For more information on GRC’s Gender and Child Justice Division, please see https://globalrightscompliance.org/division/gender-and-child-justice-division/