The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) welcomes the International Criminal Court’s historic decision to accept the first victims’ applications to participate in proceedings.
On 17 January 2006, the Pre-Trial Chamber (I) of the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a decision recognising the right of six victims to participate in proceedings before the ICC, including at the stage of the investigation currently being conducted in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
FIDH, which assisted the victims in their applications to the ICC, welcomes this determination of the scope of victims’ rights. The decision affirms the new role of victims in international criminal justice.
“The decision of the International Criminal Court is an international legal first. The six victims have achieved a landmark victory. For the first time the violation of the fundamental rights of victims, the harm they have suffered and their rights to defend their interests have been recognised by a court, the ICC,” Sidiki Kaba, President of FIDH, stated.
The Pre-Trial Chamber, which also ensures that the rights of the defence are respected and guarantees the necessary protection for the effectiveness of the investigation, concluded that “the right [of victims] to express, in a general way, their views and concerns regarding the investigation of a situation and to present evidence before the Pre-Trial Chamber cannot have negative consequences for the investigation” (paragraph 59). The Chamber further recognised that “the Statute [of the ICC] grants victims an independent voice and role in proceedings before the Court” (paragraph 51). The decision thus contributes to the developing recognition of the role of victims in international law. “The Chamber considers that article 68-3 of the Statute [which defines the right of victims to participation] also grants victims the right to participate in the fight against impunity” (paragraph 53).
The Chamber considers that “the personal interests of the victims are affected in a general manner at the investigation stage, since the participation of victims at this stage enables facts to be clarified, those responsible for crimes committed to be sanctionned and reparations for harm suffered to be requested” (paragraph 63)
Furthermore, the Chamber recognises the complementary role of non-governmental organisations in facilitating victims’ access to the International Criminal Court, by assisting them to transmit their applications for participation. Victims may otherwise remain far removed from the Court’s seat in The Hague.
FIDH transmitted these first applications for participation to the Court in May 2005. For obvious security reasons, no factual details will be given by FIDH.
The Court’s decision is available, in redacted form [Only in French]
http://www.icc-cpi.int/library/cases/ICC-01-04-101_French.pdf
- The decision was delivered in French. All citations are unofficial translations. The official translation of the decision will be available on the ICC website from 23 January 2006.
John Ahniwanika Schertow is an indigenous rights activist of Mohawk (Kanienkehaka) and mixed-European descent. For the past 8 years, he has served as the e... 
