NCJ Number
198888
Date Published
1999
Length
47 pages
Annotation
This report makes recommendations about the preparation of drafts for the International Criminal Court’s Rules of Procedure and Evidence concerning the role of the victim.
Abstract
Beginning by defining the term victim and the role of victims during referral and admissibility proceedings, this report presents the proposed Paris draft of the International Criminal Court’s Rules of Procedure and Evidence, adopted at a Paris diplomatic seminar. After discussing the role of the victim in challenges to admissibility and to jurisdiction, this report details the place and rights of victims in International Criminal Court proceedings, focusing on the initial proceedings, the trial and sentencing, and post-trial proceedings including appeal, sentence reduction hearings, and review and release hearings. Focusing on the protection of victims and witnesses, this report discusses the role of the prosecutor in protecting victims and the role of the Victims and Witnesses Unit in protecting and assisting victims and crime witnesses. Addressing reparation issues, this report documents the rights of victims to reparations, focusing on the presentation of claims, notifications, publication of proceedings, appointment of experts, assessment of reparations, and evidence. This report concludes with proposed pre-conviction measures for enforcing fines, forfeitures, and reparations awards for offenders presented to the International Criminal Court.