Columbia International Affairs Online: Policy Briefs

CIAO DATE: 07/2013

The Future of Reparations at the International Criminal Court: Addressing the Danger of Inflated Expectations

Alison Bottomley, Heather Pryse

June 2013

Centre for International Governance Innovation

Abstract

The International Criminal Court’s (ICC) restorative mandate includes providing reparations to victims of mass atrocities, and with Thomas Lubanga Dyilo’s conviction in March 2012, the ICC now faces the first test of its reparations regime. This regime is positioned to fail, especially given its limitations, such as the exclusion of victims of sexual violence.