The Position of the Victim in the Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC)

Since the end of the twentieth century, the protection of victims in the international system, in the forms of supporting victims movements, conventions and other international instruments has been seriously addressed by the international community. The Statute of the International Criminal Court provides significant provisions on the protection of victims and survivors of international crimes and, in some cases, it has been reformed and has given a high status to the victim in the process of international criminal justice. The protection and suport of victims and witnesses, the opportiunity of victim participation in the process of prosecution, the granting of special representation to the victims and compensation of victims of international crimes under the jurisdiction of the Tribunal, are among the cases neglected in previous international criminal tribunals. The concept of the victim in the documents of the International Criminal Court is wider than the definitions given in the past, and in addition to the tacit identification of indirect victims, with the admission of legal persons as victim, its scope has been expanded for the benefit of the victims. International Criminal Tribunal's provisions regarding the protection, participation and compensation of victims are a significant evolution in international criminal law.