This week, on the initiative of the Ministry of Justice, Latvia made a one-off payment of €150 000 to the International Criminal Court's (ICC) Victims' Trust Fund to provide assistance to the victims of Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine.
"The mission of the ICC Victims' Trust Fund to support victims in all conflict zones of the world is worthy of respect and recognition. Despite the challenges of insufficient funding, all of the Fund's programmes are being implemented and support is being provided to victims around the world. Latvia's voluntary financial contribution reflects our belief in upholding the international rule of law and justice, especially for the Ukrainian people during the war of aggression caused by Russia. Supporting justice for the most serious crimes that threaten humanity is a responsibility for all of us and a contribution to Europe's security. I call on other Member States to increase their financial support to the Victims' Trust Fund, while standing firm for the international legal order and justice."
Andres Parmas, Member of the Board of Directors of the International Criminal Court Victims' Trust Fund, representing Eastern European countries, said: "Latvia's current contribution to the Victims' Trust Fund demonstrates Latvia's steadfast commitment to putting justice and the principles of the Rome Statute back on the agenda. This significant support underlines the shared responsibility of Member States to address the material, psychological and physical harm suffered by victims of mass atrocities. By enabling the implementation of the Victims Fund programmes, Latvia not only reaffirms its solidarity with the most vulnerable, but also sets a strong example for other countries."
The ICC Victims' Trust Fund was established to provide support to individuals and their families who have been victims of crimes falling within the ICC's jurisdiction, such as genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. It works in countries where the ICC is investigating and prosecuting, providing victims with compensation and assistance to alleviate their suffering and promote their recovery. The Victims' Fund is directly dependent on voluntary contributions from States, which are currently insufficient.
On 24 February 2022, Russia launched a full-scale military invasion of Ukraine in flagrant violation of international law. Latvia strongly supports Ukraine in its struggle for independence and sovereignty, both by providing financial support and by nominating experts to investigate crimes and obtain evidence to bring Russia and its criminals to justice in the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
In 2024, Latvia had already committed €200,000 to strengthen the ICC's capacity to investigate war crimes in Ukraine as quickly and efficiently as possible. The funding also included a contribution of €50,000 to the ICC Victims Trust Fund.