ICC pleased with impact of trust fund for Kony war victims; pledges more funds

The International Criminal Court has expressed happiness over the impact made by the trust fund for victims of the war in Northern Uganda.

In 2002, the International Criminal Court and the Trust Fund for Victims were created under the Rome Statute with the ICC responsible for trying criminals whereas the trust fund responds to the harm resulting from the crimes.

Addressing journalists in Kampala on Thursday, Pieter de Baan, the executive director for Trust Fund for Victims said that they were happy the fund had made a great impact on the lives of thousands of victims directly and indirectly following the end of the 20 year war.

“We are very pleased with what the fund has been able to do for the people of Northern Uganda who were affected by the Kony war,” Pieter said.

The Irish ambassador to the Netherlands, Kevin Kelly said that despite dealing with criminals, there should always be available efforts to rehabilitate the victims and survivors of wars like in Uganda.

The delegation from ICC told journalists that through this fund, victims and survivors of the Kony war were able to be rehabilitated physically, psychologically and in form of materials to help them resettle in their communities following the end of the war.

“Between 2008 and 2017, the fund has given out 2544 artificial limbs to victims and we have continued to give counselling services and rehabilitation to many more victims and survivors directly and indirectly,” said Koite Doumba, a Trust Fund for Victims board member.

“Any harm caused by war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide is significant and must be addressed. The central importance of the Rome Statute is to provide the rights and needs of victims including the rights to receive reparations and assistance they need.”

The officials from ICC who are on a four day visit to Uganda as part of the activities to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Rome Statute said that from 2008, the Trust Fund for Victims has aided victims of the Kony war to a tune of 8.5 million Euros and pledged to add another one million Euros .

According to the officials from the International Criminal Court, since 2008, the fund has been able to provide medical, psychological rehabilitation, and livelihood support 16 districts and has benefitted 45000 people directly and over 200,000 indirectly.

The Lord’s Resistance Army led Joseph Kony was listed as a terrorist group by the United States government for human rights violations including murder, abduction, mutilation, child sex slavery and forcing children to participate in hostilities.

By 2006, it was believed that 1.7 million people lived in IDP camps in northern Uganda whereas thousands were killed during the 20 year war by Kony’s rebels.