THE HAGUE, Netherlands
The International Criminal Court (ICC) ruled on Monday that victims of convicted former Congolese military leader Bosco Ntaganda are to get a share of $30 million in financial reparation.
Monday’s ruling marks what is now the highest compensation order ever.
The chamber however also found Ntaganda as not able to pay the compensation himself, and therefore encouraged the Trust Fund for Victims to complement the reparation awards to the extent possible within its available resources and to engage in additional fundraising efforts as necessary to complement the totality of the award.
Priority shall be given to individuals who require immediate medical and psychological care, victims with disabilities and the elderly, victims of sexual or gender-based violence, victims who are homeless or experiencing financial hardship, as well as children born out of rape and sexual slavery and former child soldiers.
In its order, the ICC also set deadlines for the trust fund for victims to submit its general draft implementation plan by 8 September 2021, at the latest, and an urgent plan for the priority victims no later than 8 June 2021.
The Trust Fund for Victims (TFV) at the ICC has since welcomed the delivery of the reparations order for the victims.
"This is an important step in responding to the long-lasting harm that victims in this case have suffered. The TFV is fully committed to ensuring victims in the Ntaganda case receive the collective reparation awards with individual component as ordered by the ICC,” the Trust Fund said.
Ntaganda was found guilty of 18 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, committed in Ituri, DRC, in 2002-2003. On November 7th 2019, he was sentenced to a total of 30 years of imprisonment. He has since appealed the sentence.
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