Sweden has finalized a significant contribution of €560,000 to the Trust Fund for Victims (TFV) at the International Criminal Court (ICC). This latest installment, provided through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), marks the conclusion of a multi-year funding agreement covering the period from 2023 to 2025. In total, Sweden has contributed SEK 13.9 million (approximately €1.2 million) under this agreement, with funds drawn from Sweden’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget.
The announcement was made during a meeting in July 2025 at the Embassy of Sweden in The Hague, where Kevin Kelly, a member of the TFV Board of Directors, joined Johannes Oljelund, Sweden’s Ambassador to the Netherlands, to commemorate the occasion. Ambassador Oljelund emphasized Sweden’s longstanding support for reparative justice, stating that since 2011, the country has been a consistent and leading donor to the TFV. “Justice and reparations are core elements of the Rome Statute,” he said. “By our continued support to the Trust Fund for Victims, Sweden reaffirms its ongoing commitment to the victims of the most serious crimes. Reparative justice for victims and their families is a cornerstone of the international justice system. Only through engagement with affected communities, through reparations and assistance, can lasting peace be achieved. Peace is built, not given.”
Kevin Kelly echoed these sentiments, highlighting Sweden’s pivotal role in supporting victims of crimes against humanity and war crimes. “Sweden’s longstanding commitment to the rights and dignity of victims of Rome Statute crimes exemplifies the spirit of international solidarity and shared responsibility,” he said. “At a time when the global justice system faces increasing pressure, Sweden’s contribution remains essential to assert the contribution of reparative justice to peace and development.”
Since 2006, Sweden has provided more than €12.3 million to the TFV, accounting for approximately 22% of the total voluntary contributions received from ICC States Parties and private donors. This support has directly benefited around 185,000 victims through rehabilitation and reparations programmes implemented by the TFV since 2008.
Beyond financial contributions, Sweden’s partnership has strengthened the TFV’s operational standards, helping to integrate gender and intersectional approaches, enhance transparency and risk management, and ensure that programmes deliver meaningful development outcomes for victims and their communities.
Sweden’s ongoing leadership in this area reinforces the importance of reparative justice as a vital mechanism for healing, reconciliation, and the promotion of durable peace in the aftermath of atrocity crimes.
