The Prosecutor v. Bosco Ntaganda
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Original: English No.: ICC-01/04-02/06 Date: 14 July 2023
TRIAL CHAMBER II
Before: Judge Chang-ho Chung, Presiding Judge Judge Péter Kovács Judge María del Socorro Flores Liera
SITUATION IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO IN THE CASE OF THE PROSECUTOR v. BOSCO NTAGANDA
Public Redacted
(with Public Annex I, Confidential ex parte and Confidential Annex II, Public Annex III)
Addendum to the Reparations Order of 8 March 2021, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659
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To be notified, in accordance with Regulation 31 of the Regulations of the Court, to:
Legal Representatives of Victims Counsel for Bosco Ntaganda
Ms Sarah Pellet Mr Stéphane Bourgon Ms Caroline Walter Mr Benjamin Willame Mr Tars van Litsenborgh Ms Kate Gibson Ms Ana Peña
Mr Dmytro Suprun Ms Fiona Lau Ms Cherine Luzaisu
Unrepresented Victims Unrepresented Applicants for Participation/Reparation
The Office of Public Counsel for Victims Office of the Prosecutor
Ms Paolina Massidda Mr Karim A. Khan Ms Nicole Samson
States’ Representatives Amicus Curiae
Democratic Republic of Congo
REGISTRY
Registrar Counsel Support Section
Mr Osvaldo Zavala Giler
Victims and Witnesses Unit Detention Section
Victims Participation and Reparations Trust Fund for Victims
Section Ms Deborah Ruiz Verduzco Mr Philipp Ambach
Others
Appointed Experts
No. ICC-01/04-02/06 2/156 14 July 2023
Trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Court, in the case of The Prosecutor v. Bosco
Ntaganda (the ‘ Ntaganda case’), having regard to articles 68(1) and 75 of the Rome Statute
(‘Statute’), rules 85, 86, 96 to 98 and 150 of the Rules of Procedure and Evidence (‘Rules’),
and regulations 97 to 118 of the Regulations of the Registry, issues this Addendum to the
1 Reparations Order of 8 March 2021, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 (the ‘Addendum’).
I. PROCEDURAL HISTORY
2 1. On 8 July 2019, Trial Chamber VI issued the Judgment, convicting Bosco Ntaganda
(‘Mr Ntaganda’) of five counts of crimes against humanity and thirteen counts of war crimes
(‘Conviction Judgment’).
2 On 7 November 2019, Trial Chamber VI issued the Sentencing Judgment, imposing on
3 Mr Ntaganda a joint sentence of thirty years of imprisonment.
3 On 14 May 2020, Trial Chamber VI appointed four experts (the ‘Appointed Experts’)
4 and instructed them to report on issues related to reparations.
4 On 30 October 2020, the Registry transmitted (i) the ‘Experts Report on Reparation’,
submitted by Dr Karine Bonneau, Mr Eric Mongo Malolo, and Dr Norbert Wühler (the ‘First
Experts Report’); 6 and (ii) the ‘Expert Report on Reparations for Victims of Rape, Sexual
Slavery and Attacks on Healthcare’, submitted by Dr Sunneva Gilmore (the ‘Second Expert
Report’ or ‘Dr Gilmore Report’). 7
1 To the extent that the present Addendum refers to confidential documents, the Chamber considers that the reference to these documents does not undermine the confidentiality of the information concerned. 2 Judgment (‘Conviction Judgment’), 8 July 2019, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 (with Annexes A, B, and C). 3 Sentencing Judgment, 7 November 2019, ICC-01/04-02/06-2442 (with Annex). 4 Decision appointing experts on reparations, 14 May 2020, ICC-01/04-02/06-2528-Conf, public redacted version same date, ICC-01/04-02/06-2528-Red . The issues to be reported by the Appointed Experts had been identified in the Order setting deadlines in relation to reparations, 5 December 2019, ICC-01/04-02/06-2447 , para. 9. Registry Transmission of Appointed Experts’ Reports, 30 October 2020, ICC-01/04-02/06-2623 (with two Confidential ex Parte Annexes, available only to the Registry). 6 Annex 1 to the Registry Transmission of Appointed Experts’ Reports (‘First Experts Report’), public lesser redacted version 21 December 2022, ICC-01/04-02/06-2623-Anx1-Red4 . 7 Annex 2 to the Registry Transmission of Appointed Experts’ Reports (‘Second Expert Report’), public lesser redacted version 21 December 2022, ICC-01/04-02/06-2623-Anx2-Red4 .
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8 5. On 8 March 2021, Trial Chamber VI delivered the Reparations Order. On 16 March 9 2021, Trial Chamber VI was dissolved, and the case assigned to Trial Chamber II. Hereafter, both Trial Chamber VI and Trial Chamber II are referred to as the ‘Chamber’. 6. On 30 March 2021, the Appeals Chamber confirmed in full both, the Conviction 10 Judgment and the Sentencing Judgment. 7. On 12 September 2022, the Appeals Chamber issued its Judgment on the appeal against the decision of Trial Chamber VI of 8 March 2021 entitled “Reparations Order” (the ‘Appeals Judgment’). 11 The Appeals Judgment remanded the matter to the Chamber, and it partially reversed the Reparations Order considering that ‘Trial Chamber VI failed to (i) make any appropriate determination in relation to the number of potentially eligible or actual victims of the award and/or to provide a reasoned decision in relation to its conclusion about that number; (ii) provide an appropriate calculation, or set out sufficient reasoning, for the amount of the monetary award against Mr Ntaganda; (iii) assess and rule upon victims’ applications for reparations; (iv) lay out at least the most fundamental parameters of a procedure for the Trust Fund for Victims to carry out the eligibility assessment; and (v) provide reasons in relation to the concept of transgenerational harm and the evidentiary guidance to establish such harm, the assessment of harm concerning the health centre in Sayo and the breaks in the chain of causation when establishing harm caused by the destruction of that health centre, and the 12 presumption of physical harm for victims of the attacks.’ 8. On 25 October 2022, the Chamber issued its Order for the implementation of the Appeals Judgment (‘October 2022 Order’) 13 instructing, inter alia , (i) the Registry, through the Victims Participation and Reparations Section (‘VPRS’), to assemble a limited but representative sample of victims’ dossiers (‘Sample’) to be assessed and ruled upon by the Chamber; (ii) the Trust Fund for Victims (‘TFV’) to provide updated information as to the
8 Reparations Order, 8 March 2021, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 . 9 Presidency, Decision assigning judges to divisions and recomposing Chambers, 16 March 2021, ICC-01/04- 02/06-2663 , p. 7. 10 Appeals Chamber, Judgment on the appeals of Mr Bosco Ntaganda and the Prosecutor against the decision of Trial Chamber VI of 8 July 2019 entitled ‘Judgment’ (‘Appeals Judgment on Conviction’), 30 March 2021, ICC- 01/04-02/06-2666-Red ; Judgment on the appeal of Mr Bosco Ntaganda against the decision of Trial Chamber VI of 7 November 2019 entitled ‘Sentencing judgment’ (‘Appeals Judgment on Sentencing’), 30 March 2021, ICC- 01/04-02/06-2667-Red . 11 Judgment on the appeal against the decision of Trial Chamber VI of 8 March 2021 entitled “Reparations Order” (‘Appeals Judgment’), 12 September 2022, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 . 12 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , p. 11. 13 Order for the implementation of the Judgment on the appeals against the decision of Trial Chamber VI of 8 March 2021 entitled “Reparations Order” (‘October 2022 Order’), 25 October 2022, ICC-01/04-02/06-2786 .
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actual costs of running the rehabilitation programmes approved in the case of The Prosecutor v. Thomas Lubanga Dyilo (‘ Lubanga case’) and any other information relevant to the estimation of the monetary award in the Ntaganda case; (iii) the parties and participants, including the VPRS, the TFV, and, if available, the Appointed Experts, to provide further submissions and information on issues related to transgenerational harm; and (iv) all parties and participants, including the Office of the Prosecutor (‘Prosecution’), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (‘DRC’) Government and, if available, the Appointed Experts, to provide further submissions and possible evidence, on issues relevant to the assessment of the actual damage and harm caused to the health centre in Sayo. 14 9. On 25 November 2022, the Chamber issued a decision (‘November 2022 Decision’), inter alia , approving the Sample assembled by the VPRS, as sufficiently representative of the universe of potential victims in the case and instructing the (i) Legal Representatives of Victims (‘LRVs’) to consult with the victims as to the disclosure of their identities to the Defence; (ii) VPRS to transmit redacted victims’ dossiers to the Defence; (iii) LRVs to make submissions and complement the victims’ dossiers; (iv) TFV to provide information relevant to the administrative decision of the victims included in the Initial Draft Implementation Plan (‘IDIP’); (v) Defence to make submissions on the victims’ dossiers; and (vi) parties, TFV, Registry, and Prosecution, to further complement their submissions on the estimated total number of potential beneficiaries of reparations, along with the methodology used to provide such estimate. 15 10. On 19 January 2023, after having excluded two victims and replaced one, the 16 Chamber issued a Decision, inter alia , confirming that the sample remained sufficiently representative of the universe of potential victims as regards gender, age, alleged harm, alleged crimes, and alleged locations where the crimes would have occurred.
14 Decision on the Registry submission in compliance with the “Order for the implementation of the Judgment on the appeals against the decision of Trial Chamber VI of 8 March 2021 entitled ‘Reparations Order’” (‘November 2022 Decision’), 25 November 2022, ICC-01/04-02/06-2794 , with Annex 1, ICC-01/04-02/06-2794-Anx1 . 15 Decision on the Trust Fund for Victims’ submission of information on certain victims selected in Trial Chamber II’s approved sample, 9 January 2023, ICC-01/04-02/06-2808 . 16 Decision on the Registry Transmission of One Victim Dossier in Compliance with the “Decision on the Trust Fund for Victims’ submission of information on certain victims selected in Trial Chamber II’s approved sample” (ICC-01/04-02/06-2808) (‘January 2023 Decision’), 19 January 2023, ICC-01/04-02/06-2813 .
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17
11 On 30 January 2023, the TFV, the Common Legal Representative for the Victims of
18
the Attacks (‘CLR2’), the Common Legal Representative for the Former Child Soldiers (‘CLR1’),
19 20 21 22
the Registry, the Defence, and the Appointed Experts, filed submissions in accordance with the Chamber’s instructions.
23 24 25
12 On 7, 13, and 22 February 2023, the Prosecution, the DRC, the Defence, and the
26
CLR2, filed submissions on issues related to the health centre in Sayo.
27 28
13 On 3 March 2023, the CLR1 and the CLR2 made their submissions on the dossiers
of the victims included in the sample.
17 Trust Fund for Victims’ Submission pursuant to Trial Chamber II’s decisions on the implementation of the Appeals Chamber Judgment against the Reparations Order (‘TFV January 2023 Submissions’), 30 January 2023, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 . 18 Submissions by the Common Legal Representative of the Victims of the Attacks pursuant to the October 2022 Order and November 2022 Decision (‘CLR2 January 2023 Submissions’), 30 January 2023, ICC-01/04-02/06- 2820 . 19 Common Legal Representative of the Former Child Soldiers’ additional submissions on the issue of transgenerational harm and on the estimated potential number of reparations beneficiaries (‘CLR1 January 2023 Submissions’), 30 January 2023, ICC-01/04-02/06-2821 . 20 Registry Submission in compliance with the “Order for the implementation of the Judgment on the appeals against the decision of Trial Chamber VI of 8 March 2021 entitled ‘Reparations Order’” (ICC-01/04-02/06-2786) (‘Registry January 2023 Submissions’), 30 January 2023, ICC-01/04-02/06-2822 , with confidential ex parte Annex (ICC-01/04-02/06-2822-Conf-Exp-Anx) and public redacted Annex ( ICC-01/04-02/06-2822-Anx-Red ). 21 Defence further submissions on transgenerational harm and the estimated total number of potential beneficiaries (‘Defence January 2023 Submissions’), 30 January 2023, ICC-01/04-02/06-2823-Conf, public redacted version filed on 8 June 2023, ICC-01/04-02/06-2823-Red . 22 Transmission of Appointed Expert Sunneva Gilmore’s views on the Defence Request to disclose material relied upon in her Report (ICC-01/04-02/06-2812-Conf), 30 January 2023, ICC-01/04-02/06-2818-Conf, reclassified as public on 8 February 2023, ICC-01/04-02/06-2818 , with public redacted Annex, ICC-01/04-02/06-2818-Anx- Red . 23 Prosecution’s submissions pursuant to the “Order for the implementation of the judgment on the appeals against the decision of Trial Chamber VI of 8 March 2021 entitled “Reparations Order”” (‘Prosecution February 2023 Submissions’), 7 February 2023, ICC-01/04-02/06-2827-Conf, public redacted version filed on 8 February 2023, ICC-01/04-02/06-2827-Red . 24 Corrigendum of “Transmission of the Democratic Republic of Congo on the issues relevant to the assessment of the actual damage and harm caused to the health centre in Sayo (ICC-01/04-02/06-2830)”, 15 February 2023, ICC-01/04-02/06-2830-Corr (with three Confidential Annexes). 25 Defence further submissions on issues related to the Sayo Health Centre (‘Defence February 2023 Submissions’), 22 February 2023, ICC-01/04-02/06-2833-Conf, public redacted version filed on 9 February 2023, ICC-01/04-02/06-2833-Red . 26 Submissions by the Common Legal Representative of the Victims of the Attacks on the harm caused as a result of the attack on the health centre in Sayo (‘CLR2 February 2023 Submissions’), 22 February 2023, ICC-01/04- 02/06-2834-Conf, public redacted version filed on 15 June, ICC-01/04-02/06-2834-Red , with public redacted version of Annexes 1-3 ICC-01/04-02/06-2834-Anx1-Red , ICC-01/04-02/06-2834-Anx2-Red , ICC-01/04-02/06- 2834-Anx3-Red2 . 27 Common Legal Representative of the Former Child Soldiers’ submissions on the 34 applications constituting the sample (‘CLR1 March 2023 Submissions’), 3 March 2023, ICC-01/04-02/06-2835 (with Confidential ex parte and confidential redacted Annex 1). 28 Submissions by the Common Legal Representative of the Victims of the Attacks on the dossiers of the victims included in the Sample (‘CLR2 March 2023 Submissions’), 3 March 2023, ICC-01/04-02/06-2836 (with Confidential ex parte and confidential redacted annexes 1-43).
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29
14 On 1 May 2023, the Defence filed its submissions on the sample.
II. INTRODUCTION
30
15 At the outset, the Chamber recalls that the Appeals Judgment only partially reversed
31
the Reparations Order and remanded it for the Chamber to address five specific issues.
32
Accordingly, and following previous practice, the present Addendum shall be considered an
integral part of the Reparations Order, to be read in conjunction with it, and be understood as
complementing and replacing therefrom only the specific issues that are dealt with hereafter.
As to the Appeals Judgment’s reference to a ‘new order for reparations’,
33
16 the Chamber
notes that it was linked to the need to guarantee the parties’ right to appeal pursuant to article
34
82(4) of the Statute. The Chamber underlines that the parties will indeed have a fresh right to
appeal the present Addendum, as an integral part of the Reparations Order, directly before the
Appeals Chamber pursuant to rules 150 to 153 of the Rules.
17 In light of the parties’ submissions, the Chamber deems it necessary to underline that,
within the context of mass-atrocities that the countries under investigation by the Court have
generally experienced – which may involve thousands of victims – reparations proceedings
29 Submissions on behalf of the convicted person on the dossiers of the victims included in the sample (‘Defence May 2023 Submissions’), 1 May 2023, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Conf, public redacted version of 8 June 2023, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Red (with Confidential Annex A). 30 As noted in the October 2022 Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2786 , para. 17; Decision on the TFV’s Sixth and Seventh Update Reports on the Implementation of the Initial Draft Implementation Plan, 16 November 2022, ICC-01/04- 02/06-2792-Conf (reclassified as public on 24 November 2022, ICC-01/04-02/06-2792 ), para. 9. 31 See Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , inter alia , p. 11, number 1, noting that the Reparations Order was ‘ partially reversed’ to the extent that Trial Chamber VI failed to ‘(i) make any appropriate determination in relation to the number of potentially eligible or actual victims of the award and/or to provide a reasoned decision in relation to its conclusion about that number; (ii) provide an appropriate calculation, or set out sufficient reasoning, for the amount of the monetary award against Mr Ntaganda; (iii) assess and rule upon victims’ applications for reparations; (iv) lay out at least the most fundamental parameters of a procedure for the Trust Fund for Victims to carry out the eligibility assessment; and (v) provide reasons in relation to the concept of transgenerational harm and the evidentiary guidance to establish such harm, the assessment of harm concerning the health centre in Sayo and the breaks in the chain of causation when establishing harm caused by the destruction of that health centre, and the presumption of physical harm for victims of the attacks.’ [emphasis added]; para. 750, stressing that the Appeals Chamber deemed ‘appropriate to reverse the findings of the Trial Chamber on the aforementioned matters ’ [emphasis added]; para. 757, noting that ‘[i]n light of the findings of the Appeals Chamber that require fundamental aspects of the Impugned Decision to be reversed, the objective at this stage of the proceedings must be to correct the errors identified in a way that both enables the order for reparations to be based upon an appropriately solid foundation and that causes minimum disruption to the overall reparation process.’ [emphasis added]; para. 759, noting that the Reparations Order was ‘ partially reversed’ [emphasis added]. 32 See, inter alia, Trial Chamber I, Prosecutor v. Ali Muhammad Abd-Al-Rahman (‘Ali Kushayb’), Addendum to Directions on the Conduct of Proceedings Motion for Acquittal, 24 January 2023, ICC-02/05-1/20-855 . 33 See Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , inter alia , p. 11, number 2) and paras 365, 759 and footnote 1672. 34 See Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , paras 752, 758.
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before the ICC deal with the very limited duty of a convicted person to repair the harm caused to the victims of the crimes for which the person was ultimately convicted. This ensures realisation of the right of the direct and indirect victims included in the conviction to obtain reparative justice. However, as much as the Chamber would like to see the reparative right of all victims of the situation fully realised, the scope of these reparations proceedings is strictly limited in reach and scope to the terms of the conviction. As noted by commentators, also in the context of reparations the role of international criminal justice is only to complement 35 domestic justice systems. 18. In order to better illustrate the Chamber’s findings and provide further support to the eligibility process to be conducted during the implementation stage, the Chamber has detailed in Annex I to the present Addendum the scope of the conviction in relation to the victims of the attacks. This document specifies the crimes and underlying acts included in the conviction per location, as well as recalling the negative findings in relation to the underlying incidents and locations that, although included in the charges brought against Mr Ntaganda, were dismissed for lack of sufficient evidence. 19. Within this context, the Chamber underscores that the Reparations Order, of which this Addendum is an integral part, provides the general framework and guidance for the implementation by the TFV of the collective reparations with individualised components 36 awarded to the victims of the case. These types of reparations are meant to holistically address the multi-faceted harm that the victims suffered on a collective basis, while focusing on the individual members of the group by responding to their specific needs in their current 37 situation. They aim to provide victims with sustainable and long-term livelihood means, while addressing the concerns of the victims to receive equal reparations among different 38 groups. 20. Regarding the modalities of reparations, as noted in the Reparations Order, due to the multiple, diverse, and multi-faceted nature of the harms suffered by the victims it would be difficult – if not impossible – to reinstate them to the situation they were before the commission
35 F. Lattanzi, The International Criminal Court: Comments on the Draft Statute. Editoriale Scientifica, pages. 269-270) ; see also T. Hamilton and G. Sluiter, Principles of Reparations at the International Criminal Court: Assessing Alternative Approaches, in Max Planck Yearbook of United Nations Law Online, 23 December 2022, p. 316, referring to the principle of ‘reparative complementarity’. 36 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , paras 186-194. 37 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 189. 38 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 194.
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39 of the crimes. Nevertheless, the victims’ various harms can be satisfactorily addressed by a
combination of different modalities of reparations that can be integrated as part of the different 40 individualised components of the collective reparations awarded. In particular, taking into
account the wish of the victims to receive equal reparations to avoid jealousy, animosity, or 41 stigmatisation among affected communities and different groups of victims, the Chamber has
considered it appropriate to follow the approach taken in the Lubanga case providing all
victims with service-based collective reparations with individualised components directed at
their physical, mental, and socio-economic rehabilitation, together with other collective
modalities of reparations, which include symbolic and community measures.
21 The Chamber once again reiterates that Mr Ntaganda’s conviction is final and thus his
liability to repair the harm caused to the victims of the crimes for which he was convicted is 42 under no discussion. Further, the Chamber underscores that the convicted person has been 43 found to be indigent and, as such, it has encouraged the TFV to complement the reparations 44 award, to the extent possible. The Chamber stresses that, although the convicted person’s
indigence is neither an obstacle to the imposition of liability for reparations nor does it give the 45 person any right to benefit from reduced liability, it is a fact that cannot be completely
ignored.
22 The Chamber further underlines that it should strike a balance and ensure that
safeguarding the rights of a convicted person is not made at the cost of impairing the legitimate
right of victims to obtain reparations without delay. Within this context, the Chamber will
continue striving to advance these reparation proceedings in the most efficient and effective manner possible, protecting the rights of the convicted person while ensuring that the victims
39 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 198. 40 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , paras 198-211. 41 Submissions by the Common Legal Representative of the Victims of the Attacks on Reparations (‘CLR2 February 2020 Submissions’), 28 February 2020, ICC-01/04-02/06-2477-Conf (public redacted version of the same date, corrigendum 20 November 2020, ICC-01/04-02/06-2477-Red-Corr ), paras 16; Final Observations on Reparations of the Common Legal Representative of the Victims of the Attacks (‘CLR2 December 2020 Submissions’), 18 December 2020, ICC-01/04-02/06-2633-Conf (with Public Annex 1, public redacted version notified on 21 December 2020, ICC-01/04-02/06-2633-Red ), paras 54, 100; Observations on the Appointed Experts’ Reports and further submissions on reparations on behalf of the Former Child Soldiers (‘CLR1 December 2020 Submissions’), 18 December 2020, ICC-01/04-02/06-2632 , para. 78. 42 October 2022 Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2786 , para. 18, referring to Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 271 and Appeals Chamber, Decision on the Defence request for suspensive effect (‘Decision on suspensive effect’), 2 July 2021, ICC-01/04-02/06-2691 , paras 21, 25. 43 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 254. 44 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 257. 45 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , paras 97, 223
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of his crimes receive the reparations they are entitled to, and for which they have waited for more than two decades, without further delay. 46 23. Lastly, the Chamber underlines that, consistent with its approach at trial, it will not address in this Addendum all of the arguments raised by the parties and every item of evidence in the record. When it does not refer to certain evidence, even if contradictory to its findings, the Chamber stresses that it has assessed and weighed the evidence but concluded that it did not prevent it from arriving at the finding made. That said, the Chamber emphasises that it has discussed hereafter the evidence and submissions that it considers necessary to provide its full and reasoned findings and conclusions. In this regard, the Chamber notes that, in certain cases, it has explicitly set out the considerations underlying its assessment of the evidence and submissions. In other cases, despite having carefully scrutinized the evidence to ascertain that it is credible and reliable to form the basis of a specific finding, it has not necessarily referred to every detail of its assessment in writing 24. In light of the issues on remand, the Chamber hereafter addresses the following topics: a) sample of victims’ dossiers and procedure for carrying out the eligibility assessment of victims at the implementation stage; b) issues related to transgenerational harm; c) issues related to the health centre in Sayo; d) presumption of physical harm for the victims of the attacks; e) number of potentially eligible victims; f) calculation of the monetary award against Mr Ntaganda; and g) implementation of reparations.
46 Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , para. 52, referring to Trial Chamber III, The Prosecutor v Jean- Pierre Bemba Gombo , Judgment pursuant to Article 74 of the Statute, 21 March 2016, ICC-01/05-01/08-3343 , para. 227 and noting that this approach has been upheld by the Appeals Chamber ‘provided that it indicates with sufficient clarity the basis for its decision’ in Appeals Chamber, The Prosecutor v. Jean-Pierre Bemba et al , Judgment on the appeals of Mr Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo, Mr Aimé Kilolo Musamba, Mr Jean-Jacques Mangenda Kabongo, Mr Fidèle Babala Wandu and Mr Narcisse Arido against the decision of Trial Chamber VII entitled “Judgment pursuant to Article 74 of the Statute”, 8 March 2018, ICC-01/05-01/13-2275-Red , paras 105- 106; Appeals Chamber, The Prosecutor v. Thomas Lubanga Dyilo , Judgment on the appeal of Mr. Thomas Lubanga Dyilo against the decision of Pre-Trial Chamber I entitled “First Decision on the Prosecution Requests and Amended Requests for Redactions under Rule 81”, 14 December 2006, ICC-01/04-01/06-773 , para. 20; and Appeals Chamber, The Prosecutor v. Jean-Pierre Bemba et al , Judgment on the appeal of Mr Jean-Jacques Mangenda Kabongo against the decision of Pre-Trial Chamber IT of 17 March 2014 entitled “Decision on the 'Requete de mise en liberte' submitted by the Defence for Jean-Jacques Mangenda”, 11 July 2014, ICC-01/05- 01/13-560 , para. 116; See also , Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 239.
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III. ANALYSIS
A. Sample of victims’ dossiers and procedure for carrying out the eligibility assessment of victims at the implementation stage
1 Introduction
25 The Chamber recalls that, in light of the type of reparations awarded, in the Reparations
Order it did not find it necessary to rule on the merits of individual applications for reparations
47 pursuant to rule 94 of the Rules. Instead, the Chamber found it appropriate to establish the
eligibility criteria for reparations rather than identifying itself the victims eligible to benefit
48 from reparations. The Chamber thereafter proceeded to (i) indicate the characteristics of the
categories of eligible victims, in order to enable their identification during the implementation
49 50 stage; (ii) define the types of harm caused to direct and indirect victims; and (iii) set out the
criteria to be applied by the TFV when designing the awards for reparations in its draft 51 implementation plan (‘DIP’). Consequently, the Chamber instructed the TFV to include in its
DIP a detailed proposal as to the way in which it expected to conduct the administrative 52 eligibility assessment, based on the eligibility requirements established by the Chamber.
26 In the Appeals Judgment, the Appeals Chamber found that the Trial Chamber erred in
failing to rule on a sample of applications, which it found would have an impact on the 53 eligibility assessment to be conducted during implementation. Nevertheless, the Appeals
Chamber indicated that:
there may be circumstances in which, despite concrete efforts, it will not be possible to receive applications from all potential beneficiaries within a given period of time, but that they are likely to come forward in the future. In such circumstances, considering that judicial proceedings must come to an end within a reasonable period of time, a trial chamber may elect instead to rule only on a sample of applications for reparations and then proceed to estimate how many more potential beneficiaries will come forward in the future. In such cases, the information contained in the sample of applications for reparations may be essential to a determination of the types of harm and the cost to repair the harm with respect to all beneficiaries, including those who come forward only at the implementation stage of the proceedings. Ruling on applications from a sample, which must be a representative one, may allow a trial chamber to extrapolate the makeup of the entire group of beneficiaries, according to the types of harm suffered by victims from each
47 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 196. 48 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , paras 105. 49 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , paras 105-128. 50 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , paras 148-183. 51 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , paras 129-183. 52 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 253. 53 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , paras 365, 386.
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sub-group. This, in turn, is relevant to the ultimate determination of the amount of the award. In this context, the Appeals Chamber notes that the meaning of the term “sample” is twofold: it may mean a representative part from a larger group of applications already in possession of a trial chamber during the reparations proceedings. However, it may also mean all of the applications that a trial chamber has received at the reparations stage, but where it is determined that there is a strong evidential basis to conclude that those applications do not represent the total number of potential beneficiaries and that there are therefore further potential beneficiaries, who will come forward by a set date during the implementation stage and who 54 should benefit from the award.
27 As to the Chamber’s decision not to examine individual applications while establishing
55 the eligibility criteria, the Appeals Chamber held that, while it is not an error in itself for a
trial chamber to delegate the identification of (some of) the beneficiaries and the verification
of their eligibility, the Chamber erred by not having set out at least the most fundamental
56 parameters of the future procedure for the eligibility assessment.
28 In light of this – while trying to avoid re-victimisation and proceed in the most
expeditious manner possible, and in compliance with the principles of dignity, non-
discrimination, and non-stigmatisation; victim-centred approach; do no harm; and
57 proportional, prompt and adequate reparations – in the October 2022 Order, the Chamber
decided to rule on a Sample of applications for participation/joint forms/long forms, additional information and/or supporting documentation (‘victims’ dossiers’) of: (a) all victims so far
found eligible to benefit from the IDIP by the TFV; and (b) a randomly selected group from 58 the total universe of victims, amounting to 5% of the victims of the attacks and a 5% of the 59 victims of crimes against child soldiers. The Chamber further decided that it would rule on the victims’ dossiers, after having given the LRVs the opportunity to supplement them and the
60 Defence the opportunity to make submissions thereon. Having reviewed the information collected in the Registry’s databases, the Chamber indicated that it was satisfied that the
assembled sample of 171 victims was sufficiently representative of the universe of potential
54 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 341, see also , para. 10. 55 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 386. 56 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 387. 57 October 2022 Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2786 , paras 3, 7, 15, 25. 58 As noted in the Order, the universe of victims includes: (i) all victims who participated in the trial proceedings, including those found not to be eligible by the Registry, but excluding the individuals who also qualify as victims in the Lubanga case and all 69 victims already found eligible for the IDIP purposes, as the later will be necessarily assessed and not randomly selected; and ii) all non-participating victims who have already submitted long forms to the Registry within the context of the mapping exercise. October 2022 Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2786 , paras 26- 27 and footnote 67. 59 October 2022 Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2786 , para. 34(a)-(b). 60 October 2022 Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2786 , para. 34, disposition.
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victims as regards gender, age, and alleged harm, crimes, and locations where the crimes would 61 have occurred.
29 Consequently, the Chamber proceeded to assess each of the 171 victims’ dossiers, conducting its own assessment of the facts alleged by the victims, while taking into account 62 63 the parties’ submissions on the Sample, and the additional information they provided. This allowed the Chamber to reach conclusions on the Sample and set out the parameters for the future eligibility assessments to be conducted at the implementation stage. 30. In carrying out the assessment of the Sample and establishing the parameters for future eligibility assessments the Chamber also took into account the Court’s previous jurisprudence 64 on the matter, particularly in the Lubanga and the Katanga cases, noting that the regime established in the Katanga case referred to individual, as opposed to collective reparations, as awarded in the Ntaganda case. 31. The Chamber notes that, as a preliminary remark in its submissions on the Sample, the Defence takes issue with the amount of time allocated to conduct the review and analysis of the 171 victims’ dossiers. 65 According to the Defence, in order to make informed submissions for each of the victims included in the Sample, it was required to: (i) conduct an in-depth review of each dossier; (ii) consider whether the allegations made by the victims meet all the criteria required for admission, including conducting analysis and comparison with the findings in the various court documents; and (iii) conduct investigations into the allegations, including within 66 the extensive array of evidence and on-the-ground (wherever possible). The Defence submits that this is a labour-intensive process, and that it is not possible to complete it to the required standard within the two-month time frame allocated, especially in light of the limited resources allocated to the Defence during reparations proceedings. This resulted in the Defence being
61 November 2022 Decision, ICC-01/04-02/06-2794 , para. 24; January 2023 Decision, ICC-01/04-02/06-2813 , para. 8. 62 CLR1 March 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2835; CLR2 March 2023 Submissions , ICC-01/04-02/06- 2836 ; Defence May 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Red . 63 Annex 1 to the CLR1 March 2023 Submissions , ICC-01/04-02/06-2835-Conf-Anx1-Red; Annex 1 to the CLR2 March 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2836-Conf-Anx1-Red; Annex A to the Defence May 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Conf-AnxA. 64 See Decision Setting the Size of the Reparations Award for which Thomas Lubanga Dyilo is Liable (‘ Lubanga Decision on Size of the Reparations Award’), 21 December 2017, ICC-01/04-01/06-3379-Red-Corr-tENG , paras 65-189; Trial Chamber II, Prosecutor v. Germain Katanga , Order for Reparations pursuant to Article 75 of the Statute (‘ Katanga Reparations Order’), 24 March 2017, ICC-01/04-01/07-3728-tENG , paras 65- 167. 65 Defence May 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Red , paras 19-22. 66 Defence May 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Red , para. 21.
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unable to complete this review and make thorough submissions on all victims’ dossiers in the 67 sample. 68 32. The Chamber previously granted, pursuant to Regulation 35(2) of the Regulations, the Defence’s request for an extension of the time limit to make its submissions on the Sample which, as the Defence itself submitted, ‘would strike an appropriate balance between the rights of the Convicted Person and the need to proceed as expeditiously as possible’. 69 The Chamber notes that nothing precluded the Defence from submitting a subsequent request for an extension of the time limit, if, in its opinion, additional time was required to complete its review and analysis of the 171 victims’ dossiers to the required standard. Having failed to do so, the Chamber considers the Defence complaint, at this stage, is moot. Nonetheless, having reviewed the Defence’s submissions on the Sample 70 71 and its attached Confidential Annex A, which includes extensive submissions on a victim-by-victim basis, the Chamber is satisfied that the Defence’s right to make submissions and meaningfully comment on the Sample has been fully safeguarded. 33. In what follows, the Chamber will elaborate on the conditions of eligibility and relevant evidentiary criteria and the results of its assessment of the Sample for both groups of victims, i.e., victims of crimes against child soldiers and victims of the attacks. 2. Evidentiary criteria and standard of proof 34. The Chamber recalls that in the Reparations Order, it clearly stated that victims eligible for reparations must provide sufficient proof of identity, of the harm suffered, and of the causal 72 link between the crime and the harm. 35. In addition, the Chamber indicated that reparations proceedings require a less exacting standard of proof than trial proceedings and, in line with previous jurisprudence, it adopted the ‘balance of probabilities’ test as the appropriate standard of proof in reparations proceedings. 73
67 Defence May 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Red , para. 21. 68 Email from the Chamber’s Legal Officer, 24 March 2023, 8:28. 69 Defence request for a limited extension of the time limit set to make submissions on the dossiers of the victims included in the sample, 20 March 2023, ICC-01/04-02/06-2837 , para. 14. 70 Defence May 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Red . 71 Annex A to the Defence May 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Conf-AnxA. 72 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 137. 73 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 136.
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36 In relation to the causal link, the Chamber adopted the ‘but/for’ standard of causation 74 as to the relationship between the crimes and the harm. Moreover, the Chamber indicated that it is required that the crimes for which a person was convicted were the ‘proximate cause’ of 75 the harm for which reparations are sought. The Chamber underlined that the ‘proximate cause’ is one that is legally sufficient to result in liability, assessing, inter alia , whether it was reasonably foreseeable that the acts and conduct underlying the conviction would cause the 76 resulting harm. 3. Conditions of eligibility i. Victims of crimes against child soldiers 37. Regarding child soldiers, in light of the overlap between the Ntaganda and the Lubanga cases, in order to ensure equal treatment of victims of the same crimes, the Chamber decides 77 to adopt the same eligibility criteria as the one developed in the Lubanga case. This mechanism is however adapted to the specific characteristics of the Ntaganda case, which include, inter alia , the expanded temporal scope and the additional sexual and gender based 78 crimes suffered by the child soldiers. Consequently, following a similar approach to that of the Lubanga case, the Chamber underlines that a precondition for a victim – direct or indirect – to be eligible for reparations, is that the conscription or enlistment of children under the age of 15 years into the UPC/FPLC ranks, between on or about 6 August 2002 and 31 December 2003, and/or their use to participate actively in hostilities, between on or about 6 August 2002 79 and on or about 30 May 2003, be established on a balance of probabilities. 38. As such, the ‘child soldier status’ is the essential condition that the direct or indirect 80 victim must prove. Therefore, in the case of a potentially eligible direct or indirect victim of crimes against child soldiers, the following conditions should be verified at the required standard of proof: i. First requirement: their identity;
74 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 132. 75 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 132. 76 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 133. 77 See Lubanga Decision on Size of the Reparations Award, ICC-01/04-01/06-3379-Red-Corr-tENG , paras 60- 190; see also CLR1 March 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2835 , para. 13. 78 See also Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 222. 79 Lubanga Decision on Size of the Reparations Award, ICC-01/04-01/06-3379-Red-Corr-tENG , para. 66. 80 Lubanga Decision on Size of the Reparations Award, ICC-01/04-01/06-3379-Red-Corr-tENG , para. 66.
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ii. Second requirement: 1. for direct victims: whether the victim has established, on a balance of probabilities, the child soldier status; and 2. for indirect victims: a. whether the victim has established, on a balance of probabilities, the child soldier status of the direct victim; and b. whether the indirect victim demonstrated to fall within at least one of the four categories of indirect victims recognised by the Chamber and that he or she has personally suffered harm because of the commission 81 of a crime against the direct victim. iii. Third requirement: whether the victim has established, on a balance of probabilities, the existence of the alleged harm; and iv. Fourth requirement: whether the victim has established, on a balance of probabilities, the causal link between the alleged harm and the crimes for which Mr Ntaganda was convicted. 39. Regarding child soldiers who are also victims of sexual or gender-based crimes, children born out of rape or sexual slavery, and indirect victims of these crimes, the Chamber follows the same approach as above but also verifying, on a balance of probabilities, the status of the direct victim as a victim of the sexual or gender based crimes or a children born out of the crime of rape or sexual slavery. As such, the following conditions should be verified at the required standard of proof: i. First requirement: their identity; ii. Second requirement: 1. for direct victims: whether the victim has established, on a balance of probabilities, the child soldier status and having been a victim of rape or sexual slavery between on or about 6 August 2002 and 31 December 2003, in Ituri or having been a children born out of the crime of rape or sexual
81 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , paras 36-38, 124-128.
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slavery committed between on or about 6 August 2002 and 31 December 2003; and 2. for indirect victims: a. whether the victim has established, on a balance of probabilities, the child soldier status of the direct victim and that the direct victim was also a victim of rape or sexual slavery between on or about 6 August 2002 and 31 December 2003, in Ituri or a children born out of the crime of rape or sexual slavery committed between on or about 6 August 2002 and 31 December 2003; and b. whether the indirect victim demonstrated to fall within at least one of the four categories of indirect victims recognised by the Chamber and that he or she has personally suffered harm because of the commission 82 of a crime against the direct victim. iii. Third requirement: whether the victim has established, on a balance of probabilities, the existence of the alleged harm; and iv. Fourth requirement: whether the victim has established, on a balance of probabilities, the causal link between the alleged harm and the crimes for which Mr Ntaganda was convicted. ii. Victims of the attacks 40. Similarly, for victims of the attacks, and as will be explained further below, the Chamber considers that the precondition for a victim of the attacks to be eligible for reparations, is that they establish their status as direct or indirect victims of any of the crimes committed during the attacks for which Mr Ntaganda was convicted, on a balance of probabilities. Therefore, the following conditions should be verified at the required standard of proof: i. First requirement: their identity; ii. Second requirement: 1. for direct victims: whether the victim has established, on a balance of probabilities, to be a direct victim of at least one of the crimes committed
82 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , paras 36-38, 124-128.
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during the First/or the Second Operation and for which Mr Ntaganda was convicted (as detailed in Annex I to the present Addendum); and 2. for indirect victims: a. whether the victim has established, on a balance of probabilities, the victim status of the direct victim; and b. whether the indirect victim demonstrated to fall within at least one of the four categories of indirect victims recognised by the Chamber and that he or she has personally suffered harm because of the commission 83 of a crime against the direct victim. iii. Third requirement: whether the victim has established, on a balance of probabilities, the existence of the alleged harm; and iv. Fourth requirement: whether the victim has established, on a balance of probabilities, the causal link between the alleged harm and the crimes for which Mr Ntaganda was convicted. 4. Issues on the victims’ eligibility arising from the analysis of the Sample a) Supporting documentation i. Appeals Judgment findings 41. The Chamber notes that the Appeals Chamber emphasises that, as found in its previous jurisprudence, when making a decision as to the eligibility of a victim for reparations, the 84 enquiry is whether the relevant facts have been established to the applicable standard of proof. According to the Appeals Chamber, this standard of proof must be met, regardless of whether 85 or not a victim has been in a position to provide supporting documentary evidence. 42. The Appeals Chamber thereafter recalled its findings in the Lubanga case, regarding 86 rule 94(1)(g) of the Rules, whereby it stated that:
83 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , paras 36-38, 124-128. 84 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 508. 85 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 508. 86 As noted by the Chamber in the Reparations Order, this rule is applicable to proceedings leading to individual reparations and is of less relevance in relation to collective reparations, see Reparations Order ICC-01/04-02/06- 2659 , para. 140, referring to Decision establishing the principles and procedures to be applied to reparations (‘ Lubanga Judgment on Principles’), 7 August 2012, ICC-01/04-01/06-3129 , para. 149 and Appeals Chamber,
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The Appeals Chamber considers that the requirement to provide, to the extent possible, supporting documents and information under rule 94(1)(g) of the Rules, both serves to assist a trial chamber in its assessment of a claim while also providing the convicted person with an opportunity to challenge the requests submitted. However, the rule also allows for the possibility that a request that is not supported by relevant documentation may nevertheless be filed . In this regard, and as correctly noted by the Trial Chamber, rule 94(1)(g) of the Rules acknowledges that victims are not always in a position to provide supporting documentation . Consequently, the Appeals Chamber considers that the fact that potential victims generally did not submit documents in support of their written allegations does not lead inexorably to the conclusion that the Trial Chamber was prevented from finding that their 87 victimhood was established to a balance of probabilities .
43 The Appeals Chamber further recalled that ‘what is [...] “sufficient” for purposes of an applicant meeting the burden of proof will depend upon the circumstances of the specific case’,
and trial chambers enjoy ‘a certain amount of flexibility in the assessment of claims that have
been submitted’, in the sense that ‘an assessment of the “sufficiency” of the evidence is not limited to the evidence submitted by the victim in question’.
88
44 Referring to its findings in the Lubanga case, it reiterated that:
[…] corroboration may come from extrinsic evidence, including the testimonial and documentary evidence entered into the record and the statements of other victims in their requests. In the exercise of its discretion, a trial chamber may consider that a victim’s account has sufficient probative value in light of the totality of the evidence so as to find that the allegations therein satisfy the burden of proof, even in the absence of supporting documents . A trial chamber may also consider the significance of the allegation sought to be proven. In this respect, some allegations are critical to the overall assessment of the person’s eligibility and, unless they are otherwise corroborated, the trial chamber may decline to find the person eligible 89 without documentation supporting those allegations. […]
The Appeals Chamber notes that, as just discussed, a trial chamber may find a person eligible for reparations, even where he or she has not supplied any documentation . It also recalls that the difficulty victims may face in obtaining supporting documentation can be taken into consideration when determining the appropriate standard of proof in reparations proceedings . The Appeals Chamber considers that a trial chamber is also not prevented from finding a person eligible for reparations in circumstances where he or she did not give reasons for his or her inability to provide supporting documentation. However, to allow the trial chamber to properly reach a conclusion, it is in the interest of the person who is unable to
The Prosecutor v. Thomas Lubanga Dyilo, Judgment on the appeals against Trial Chamber II’s ‘Decision Setting the Size of the Reparations Award for which Thomas Lubanga Dyilo is Liable’ (‘ Lubanga Judgment on Size of Reparations Award’), 18 July 2019, ICC-01/04-01/06-3466-Red , paras 87-88. 87 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 511 [emphasis added], referring to Lubanga Judgment on Size of Reparations Award, ICC-01/04-01/06-3466-Red , para. 202. 88 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 512, referring to Lubanga Judgment on Size of Reparations Award, ICC-01/04-01/06-3466-Red , para. 203. 89 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 512 [emphasis added], referring to Lubanga Judgment on Size of Reparations Award, ICC-01/04-01/06-3466-Red , para. 203.
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supply any documentation to explain his or her reasons for this inability. At any rate, the trial chamber’s enquiry is whether the relevant facts have been established to the applicable standard of proof . Such was the Trial Chamber’s enquiry in the present case. The Appeals Chamber also notes the Trial Chamber’s finding that, in most cases the potentially eligible victims were not in a position to submit supporting documentation to prove their allegations, and its reference to the circumstances in the DRC and the many years that have elapsed since the material 90 events. 45. The Appeals Chamber further emphasised that, ‘to allow the trial chamber to properly
reach a conclusion, it is in the interest of the person who is unable to supply any documentation
91 to explain his or her reasons for this inability’. The Appeals Judgment further indicated that,
ultimately, the enquiry is whether the relevant facts have been established to the applicable
92 standard of proof, and that this consideration will govern the assessment of an application.
46 At the same time, the Appeals Chamber stressed that the Chamber must now assess the
information that may or may not be available to victims and decide whether it is necessary to
provide further guidance to prospective victims as to what documentation or proof it will 93 require. According to the Appeals Chamber, this cannot be understood as providing carte
blanche to victims to come forward without supporting evidence, and the Chamber is expected
to conduct an appropriate enquiry, on a case-by-case basis, and to ensure that what it receives 94 meets the appropriate standard of proof, that is, proving harm and the causal nexus.
ii. Parties submissions
47 In their submissions on the Sample, the LRVs inform that they have been generally
unable to collect additional documentation to complement the victims’ dossiers, as in the 95 current circumstances in Ituri obtaining official or unofficial documents is simply unfeasible.
According to the CLR1, the resurgence of the conflict, the insecurity, and the resulting large
displacement of the population are such that no evidence can be obtained today or in the near 96 future. Similarly, the CLR2 informs that the victims of the attacks that he consulted – with
90 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 513 [emphasis added], referring to Lubanga Judgment on Size of Reparations Award, ICC-01/04-01/06-3466-Red , para. 204. 91 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 515. 92 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 515. 93 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 516. 94 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 516. 95 CLR1 March 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2835 , para. 16; see also CLR2 March 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2836 , paras 25-26, 29. 96 CLR1 March 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2835 , para. 16.
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the exception of only two – were unable to provide any documentary information to support 97 the harm they suffered.
48 As to the extent to which the LRVs were able to contact their clients and collect supplementary information, the CLR2 reports that he could only reach 42 victims amid the 98 conflict and displacement of population in Ituri, while the CLR1 contacted only one victim, as in her view this was the only occurrence where the information available was insufficient to 99 reach a final conclusion as to eligibility. The LRVs indicate that the information obtained only provided clarification on certain points or supplemented the victims’ accounts in their 100 respective dossiers. The CLR2 further indicates that, although some victims mentioned witnesses who would be able to corroborate their stories, he was not in a position to collect 101 statements due to the ongoing insecurity and significant displacement of population. The CLR2 emphasized that, if the victims had continued to reside in their respective villages, it would have been more feasible to collect documents and other evidence on a community 102 basis. 49. Regarding the specific difficulties of the victims to provide documentary proof in support of their claims, the CLR2 provided the following explanations: a. as to victims of murder, the CLR2 indicates that indirect victims were unable to obtain death certificates, as they were not issued during the war, and in some cases the corpses of 103 the deceased family members were never found. The CLR2 further informs that the victim’s kinship with parents can be evidenced from the identification document attached to the application, and that only in two instances the victims were able to provide statements 104 of two witnesses confirming the death of relatives;
b. as to victims of rape and sexual slavery, the CLR2 indicates that they could not provide any proof of rape, as either the victim did not go to hospital, or the available medical documents 105 were destroyed in subsequent attacks;
97 CLR2 March 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2836 , para. 19. 98 CLR2 March 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2836 , para. 16. 99 CLR1 March 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2835 , para. 23. 100 CLR1 March 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2835 , paras 23, 26-27; see also CLR2 March 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2836 , para. 23. 101 CLR2 March 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2836 , para. 25. 102 CLR2 March 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2836 , para. 26. 103 CLR2 March 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2836 , para. 19. 104 CLR2 March 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2836 , para. 19. 105 CLR2 March 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2836 , para. 20.
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c. as to victims of destruction of property, the CLR2 explains that they did not have any 106 ownership documentation, as per the local practice in small villages. According to the CLR2, the few victims who did possess documentation regarding ownership lost it, either during the war or afterwards, and after the war their victimisation or harm was not 107 processed and acknowledged in any formal manner by the local or national authorities. The CLR2 contends that victims who have had their homes destroyed and/or their property 108 pillaged were unable to have such crimes formally recognised; and d. as to victims of the attacks who suffered crimes affecting their entire villages, such as intentionally directing attacks against civilians, persecution, forcible transfer and displacement, the CLR2 argues that they are unable to provide any documentation to prove that they left their homes to hide in the bush/forest while living in harsh conditions because 109 of these crimes. 50. Consequently, both LRVs submit that evidentiary standards and procedures should account for the above difficulties and circumstances were collecting documentary evidence to substantiate the victims’ claims is unfeasible. As such, the LRVs submit that a ‘coherent and credible’ account should suffice to satisfy the standard and burden of proof to make a positive 110 finding of their eligibility. The CLR2 further indicates that a ‘coherent and credible’ account would be informed by the intrinsic quality, coherence, and consistency of the victims’ 111 statements/accounts. 51. In its submissions, the Defence indicates that to be eligible to benefit from reparations, victims are required to submit sufficient evidence to meet the ‘balance of probabilities’ 112 standard for all aspects of their claim. It submits that what is sufficient for the purposes of a victim meeting the burden of proof will depend upon the specific circumstances of the case, 113 including any difficulties the victims may face in obtaining evidence. In the argument of the
106 CLR2 March 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2836 , paras 19, 21. 107 CLR2 March 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2836 , para. 21. 108 CLR2 March 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2836 , para. 21. 109 CLR2 March 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2836 , para. 21. 110 CLR2 March 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2835 , paras 16-17; CLR2 March 2023 Submissions, ICC- 01/04-02/06-2836 , paras 29-30. 111 CLR2 March 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2836 , para. 30. 112 Defence May 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Red , para. 36. 113 Defence May 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Red , para. 36.
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Defence, at a minimum, the information provided must contain relevant details, and be 114 verifiable, and the victims cannot simply state they are victims of a crime, without more. 52. The Defence further indicates that for a claim to be sufficiently detailed and verifiable, it must be supported by information or documents. Alternatively, the victims must provide an adequate justification as to why the materials could not be obtained, which must itself be 115 verifiable. The Defence maintains that detailed information is required to verify the victims’ claims, generally indicating that the following information is required: a. victims of murder and attempted murder (Counts 1 and 2): (i) death certificates or specific reason(s) as to why death certificates are not available; (ii) information regarding the occupation at the time of the persons allegedly murdered (whether they or members of their immediate family took part in the fighting); and at a minimum, (iii) document(s) or a 116 declaration from a non-interested third party should have been provided; b. victims of attacks against civilians (Count 3): (i) where the applicant was when the attack began; (ii) what the applicant saw and how the attack unfolded; (iii) who was with the applicant when fleeing who could confirm his narrative; (iv) whether the applicant possesses information, which, when compared with the evidence, reveals that he was actually present, to determine that the applicant was a genuine victim of attack against civilians; and (v) names and contact details of non-interested third party(ies) and 117 declaration(s) must be provided; c. victims of rape (Counts 4 and 5): when and how it happened and the subsequent 118 consequences; d. victims of persecution (Count 10): at a minimum, names and contact details persons who 119 were with the applicant must be provided;
114 Defence May 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Red , para. 36. 115 Defence May 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Red , para. 38. 116 See, for instance, Annex A to the Defence May 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Conf-AnxA, pp. 32, 35, 58, 77, 87, 104, 109, 114, 127, 136, 138, 139, 151.. 117 See, for instance, Annex A to the Defence May 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Conf-AnxA, pp. 6, 9, 33-34, 48-49, 51-52, 54-58, 92, 101-103, 106-107, 109, 112, 114, 118-120, 137-139, 147, 149-151, 159, 168. 118 See, for instance, Annex A to the Defence May 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Conf-AnxA, pp. 137, 140, 142, 160. 119 See, for instance, Annex A to the Defence May 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Conf-AnxA, pp. 67, 68, 71, 83, 98, 123, 128, 129, 157.
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e. victims of pillaging (Count 11): (i) information concerning the items pillaged; (ii) whether
the applicant saw the looting of the items; (iii) the last time the items were seen by the
120 applicant and the time the looting was noticed;
f. victims of forcible transfer, deportation, and ordering the displacement of the civilian
population (Counts 12 and 13): (i) where the applicant went; (ii) information regarding the
travelling; and at a minimum, (iii) names and contact details of non-interested third
121 party(ies) and declaration(s);
g. victims of enlistment, conscription and use in hostilities (Counts 14, 15, 16): (i) information concerning the applicant’s commanders, unit within UPC/FPC; (ii) when the applicant
demobilised; (iii) how the applicant demobilised; (iv) the applicant’s involvement in the
different battles he mentioned, who was with him, etc; (v) and at the minimum, names and
contact details of others, child soldiers or not, who were with him should be provided, and
122 information concerning the units and the commanders involved; and
h. victims of destruction of property (Count 18): (i) proof of ownership or specific reason(s)
as to why no proof of ownership is available must be provided; and at a minimum, (ii)
document(s) or a declaration from a non-interested third party regarding the place where
123 applicant lived.
iii. Chamber determination
53 The Chamber recalls that, in order to determine whether the victims in the Sample have
124 complied with the criteria outlined above, it applies the standard of ‘a balance of
probabilities’. 125 126 127 In addition, as recalled by the Appeals Chamber and the parties, what is
120 See, for instance, Annex A to the Defence May 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Conf-AnxA, pp. 10-11, 14, 16, 20-21, 27, 30, 34, 48-49, 51, 53-57, 59, 68, 77, 87, 89-91, 93, 100-102, 104, 107-108, 110, 113- 114, 117-120, 137-138, 143, 147, 149-150, 152-153, 160, 169-170. 121 See, for instance, Annex A to the Defence May 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Conf-AnxA, pp. 10, 12, 22, 30, 51, 53-56, 58-59, 77, 93, 105, 113, 115, 136-137, 140, 143, 147, 149-150, 152, 160, 167, 169. 122 See, for instance, Annex A to the Defence May 2023 Submissions , ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Conf-AnxA, pp. 26, 39-47, 81-82, 84-86, 110, 112, 130, 132-133, 135, 144-146, 158-160. 123 See, for instance, Annex A to the Defence May 2023 Submissions , ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Conf-AnxA, pp. 7, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 22, 30, 50, 56, 63, 68, 74, 77, 80, 87, 90-91, 94, 100-102, 107-108, 110, 116-120, 127, 132, 138, 169. 124 See Section III.A.2 above. 125 See Section III.A.2 above. 126 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 512. 127 See CLR1 March 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2835 , paras 16-17; CLR2 March 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2836 , paras 29-30; Defence Submissions on the Sample, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Red , para. 36.
No. ICC-01/04-02/06 26/156 14 July 2023
necessary to satisfy this evidentiary standard and what is reasonable to expect from the victims 128 129 in support of their claims, depends on the specific circumstances of the case.
54 As noted in the Appeals Judgment, the Chamber enjoys a certain amount of flexibility in the assessment of the dossiers and a determination that they are ‘sufficient’ is not necessarily 130 made only on the basis of the evidence. However, this is not to be understood as providing carte blanche to victims to come forward without supporting documentation. The Chamber is expected to conduct an appropriate enquiry, on a case-by-case basis, and ensure that the victims 131 dossiers meet the appropriate standard of proof. While it is in the interest of the person who 132 is unable to supply any documentation to explain the reasons for this inability, the Chamber is not prevented from finding a person eligible for reparations in circumstances where the 133 person did not provide such justifications. 55. The Chamber notes that, during the reparations proceedings in the present case, it has been made aware of the challenges the victims may face in producing documentary evidence to support their claims, noting in particular the victims’ difficulties in obtaining or producing 134 copies of official documents in the DRC. The Chamber further recalls that in its October 2022 Order, it indicated that it would rule on the victims’ applications selected as part of the sample, after having given the LRVs the possibility to make submissions and complement the 135 forms with any supporting documentation, to the extent possible and necessary . Similarly, the Chamber noted the challenges in terms of access and communication with victims, and stressed that all the victims that might be assessed as not eligible within the context of the Sample, particularly in cases where their LRVs may not be able to locate them or further complement their dossier, will have an opportunity to supplement and clarify their accounts at 136 the implementation stage. 56. The Chamber observes that, in the Lubanga case, in a similar situation, the relevant Chamber ruled that rule 94(1)(g) of the Rules makes allowance for the fact that potentially
128 For a similar approach, see Lubanga Decision on Size of the Reparations Award, ICC-01/04-01/06-3379-Red- Corr-tENG , para. 65. 129 See also, Lubanga Judgment on Size of Reparations Award, ICC-01/04-01/06-3466-Red , para. 203. 130 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 512. 131 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 516. 132 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 515. 133 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 513, referring to Lubanga Judgment on Size of Reparations Award, ICC-01/04-01/06-3466-Red , para. 204. 134 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 138. 135 October 2022 Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2786 , paras 8-9. 136 October 2022 Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2786 , para. 10.
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eligible victims are not always in a position to furnish documentary evidence in support of their
applications, given the circumstances in the DRC and the many years that have elapsed since
137
the events took place.
57 The Chamber further stresses that, in 2020, the Registry reported that in its
consultations with stakeholders from the locations where the victims of the attacks used to
138
reside, it was informed that hardly any official documents had survived the 2002-2003
139
period. In the same report, the Registry indicated the possibility for victims of certain
140
locations to obtain some supporting documentation. While this could be an option in certain
cases, the Chamber notes that the average cost for the documents referred by the Registry is 10
141
USD per document. At the same time, the Chamber underscores that the current security
142
situation is marked by a resurgence of the conflict, where victims are difficult to reach. As
such, the Chamber considers that placing this additional financial and logistical burden on the
few victims that may be able to obtain documentation would be unreasonable in the current
143
circumstances and unfair as the burden will not be equally imposed on all victims.
Accordingly, the Chamber does not consider this to be a feasible and appropriate course of
action. Moreover, the Chamber notes that it is unclear whether the possibility to obtain
documentations in certain locations still exists, considering that the information was provided
144 145
in February 2020, and the security situation in the DRC has worsened since.
137 See Lubanga Decision on Size of the Reparations Award, ICC-01/04-01/06-3379-Red-Corr-tENG , para. 61. 138 Annex II to Registry’s Observations on Reparations (‘Annex II – Registry’s February 2023 Observations’), 28 February 2020, ICC-01/04-02/06-2475-AnxII-Red3 , paras 1-2. 139 Annex II – Registry’s February 2023 Observations, ICC-01/04-02/06-2475-AnxII-Red3 , for Banyali-Kilo collectivity, the Registry informs that no official documentation has survived the 2002-2003 war: for Mongbwalu and Sayo, see pp. 7-8, for Nzebi, see p. 9, for Kilo (Mission/Etat), see p. 10; for Walendu-Djatsi collectivity, the Registry informs that no or almost no documentation has survived the 2002-2003 war: for Kobu, see p. 12, for Bambu, see p. 13, for Tsili, see p. 14, for Lipri, see p. 15, for Nyangaray, see p. 16, for Sangi, see p. 17, for Jitchu, see p. 18, for Buli, see p. 19. 140 Annex II – Registry’s February 2023 Observations, ICC-01/04-02/06-2475-AnxII-Red3 , pp. 7-19. 141 Annex II – Registry’s February 2023 Observations, ICC-01/04-02/06-2475-AnxII-Red3 , for Mongbwalu, see p. 7; for Sayo, see p. 8; for Nzebi, see p. 9; for Kilo-Etat/Kilo-Mission, see p. 10; for Kobu, see p. 12; for Bambu, see p. 13; for Tsili, see p. 14; for Lipri, see p. 15; for Nyangaray, see p. 16; for Sangi, see p. 17; for Jitchu, see p. 18; for Buli, see p. 19. for Buli, see p. 19. 142 CLR1 March 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2835 , para. 16; CLR2 March 2023 Submissions, ICC- 01/04-02/06-2836 , paras 25-26. 143 This could even be considered to be against the principle of dignity, non-discrimination, and non-stigmatisation as provided for in the Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , paras 41-44. 144 Annex II – Registry’s February 2023 Observations, ICC-01/04-02/06-2475-AnxII-Red3 , pp. 7-19. , Trust Fund for Victims’ Eleventh Update Report on 145 For the latest reports on the security situation in Ituri see the Implementation of the Initial Draft Implementation Plan (‘TFV’s Eleventh Report’), 30 May 2023, ICC-01/04- 02/06-2854-Red , para. 11; Trust Fund for Victims’ Tenth Update Report on the Implementation of the Initial Draft Implementation Plan, dated 30 March 2023, ICC-01/04-02/06-2839-Conf, 30 March 2023, ICC-01/04-02/06-
No. ICC-01/04-02/06 28/156 14 July 2023
58 Having carefully assessed the LRVs’ and the Defence’s submissions in light of the
Appeals Judgment considerations, as detailed above, the Chamber has concluded that, in light
of the time elapsed since the commission of the crimes, the resurgence of the conflict, and the
146 continuous displacement of the victims, it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, for the
victims to obtain additional documentary evidence in the current circumstances. In keeping
147 with the Appeals Chamber’s findings as to the importance of reasoning, the Chamber further
underlines the extensive submissions put forward by the LRVs as to the impossibility of
148 149 obtaining documentary evidence, in the case of the CLR2 on a crime-by-crime basis.
Furthermore, the Chamber notes that 27 out of the 42 victims that the CLR2 managed to reach,
150 provided information as to the impossibility to produce the documentation.
59 The Chamber is therefore satisfied that the victims, directly or through the LRVs, have
amply explained the reasons for their inability to produce additional documents, which, as
151 detailed above, is corroborated by multiple sources.
b) Compliance with the ‘balance of probabilities’ standard
60 Notwithstanding the above, the Chamber underlines that the matter for its consideration
is what is necessary to satisfy the ‘balance of probabilities’ standard. 152 The Chamber notes
that the LRVs submit that a ‘coherent and credible’ account should suffice to satisfy the
standard and burden of proof and allow the Chamber to make positive findings on the victims’
153 eligibility. Further, the Chamber recalls that the CLR2 argues that ‘a coherent and credible’
account, would be informed by the intrinsic quality, coherence, and consistency of the victims’
154 statements/accounts. As noted above, the Defence submits that a mix of supporting
2839-Red , paras 11-13; Trust Fund for Victims’ Ninth Update Report on the Implementation of the Initial Draft Implementation Plan, dated 30 January 2023, ICC-01/04-02/06-2817-Conf, 30 January 2023, ICC-01/04-02/06- 2817-Red , paras 19-21. 146 CLR1 March 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2835 , para. 16. 147 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 515. 148 CLR1 March 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2835 , para. 16; see also CLR2 March 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2836 , paras 25-26, 29. 149 CLR2 March 2023 Submissions e, ICC-01/04-02/06-2836 , paras 19-22. 150 That is the case for applicants: a/00021/13; a/00802/13; a/00880/13; a/00891/13; a/01720/13; a/00910/13; a/00436/13; a/00795/13; a/00140/13; a/01711/13; a/30286/15; a/01659/13; a/00438/13; a/20194/14; a/01605/13; a/01566/13; a/30003/15; a/01269/13; a/00090/13; a/00256/13; a/30248/15 & a/30271/15; a/30282/15; a/40042/21; a/00075/13; a/01678/13; a/01679/13; and a/00096/13. 151 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 515. 152 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 508. 153 CLR1 March 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2835 , paras 16-17; CLR2 March 2023 Submissions, ICC- 01/04-02/06-2836 , paras 29-30. 154 CLR2 March 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2836 , para. 30.
No. ICC-01/04-02/06 29/156 14 July 2023
documentation (i.e., death certificates, proof of ownership, and/or other documents and declarations from non-interested third parties) and extensive factual information are necessary 155 to meet the balance of probabilities standard. 61. The Chamber details below its reasoning as to the required information regarding each of the conditions of eligibility and the application of the relevant standard of ‘balance of probabilities’. At the outset, the Chamber underlines that, in order to reach its conclusions, it assessed the information included in the victims’ dossiers and all supporting documents, to the extent available, verifying the intrinsic coherence and credibility of the account. In addition, the Chamber checked the extrinsic coherence and credibility of the victims’ accounts by searching for corroborating evidence that would verify the consistency of the accounts with the Chamber’s previous findings in the Conviction Judgment and with other victims’ dossiers in the Sample. Where one victim has filed more than one application, or has provided supplementary information upon being contacted by the LRVs and the information in both documents does not fully overlap or presents slight discrepancies, the Chamber does not 156 consider that this, on its face, may necessarily cast doubt on the victims’ credibility. i. Issues related to the first requirement: identity 62. The Chamber notes that the CLR1 submitted that the victims’ identity could be demonstrated through official or unofficial proof of identification or, alternatively, through the 157 signed statements of two individuals, as per the Court’s consistent case-law. Furthermore, in their submissions, both LRVs state that all the victims in the Sample established their identity 158 by providing a valid proof of identity. As such, the CLR1 submits that all of the 34 child soldiers she represents provided either a copy of their carte d’électeur or an attestation de carence , an attestation of the chef de collectivité , officer d’état civil , or the chef de groupement 159 or an attestation de naissance . In addition, the CLR2 submits that the 137 victims of the 160 attack that he represents had already attached to their application form their identity cards.
155 Defence May 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Red , paras 36, 38; see also para. 52 above and corresponding footnotes. 156 See also Lubanga Decision on Size of the Reparations Award, ICC-01/04-01/06-3379-Red-Corr-tENG , para. 64; Katanga Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-01/07-3728-tENG , para. 70. 157 CLR1 March 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2835 , para. 19. 158 CLR1 March 2023 Submissions , ICC-01/04-02/06-2835 , para. 19; CLR2 March 2023 Submissions, ICC- 01/04-02/06-2836 , para. 19. 159 CLR1 March 2023 Submissions , ICC-01/04-02/06-2835 , para. 19. 160 CLR2 March 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2836 , para. 19.
No. ICC-01/04-02/06 30/156 14 July 2023
63 In its submissions, the Defence takes issue with the redactions applied to the victims’ 161 dossiers. In particular, the Defence challenges the LRVs’ approach to redact all information that might reveal the identities of victims, including, in the Defence’s opinion, ‘key information relating to the description of the harm suffered, the events that caused the harm and the link 162 between such harm and the crimes of which Mr Ntaganda has been convicted’. The Defence indicates that while, as per Chamber’s instructions, the victims’ lack of consent to have their identity disclosed was the only factor justifying continued extensive redactions, [REDACTED] of the victims included in the Sample did not have the opportunity to express their preference as they could not be reached by their LRVs. Nonetheless, the Chamber ‘proceeded on the basis 163 that all 171 victims refused to having their identity disclosed’. 64. The Chamber recalls that in the Reparations Order it indicated that victims may use official or unofficial identification documents, or any other means of demonstrating their 164 identities. In the absence of acceptable documentation, a statement signed by two credible witnesses establishing the identity of the victim and describing the relationship between the 165 victim and any individual acting on their behalf is acceptable. 65. As to the Defence’s submission that not all victims were reached to express their preference, the Chamber notes the LRVs’ submissions on the impossibility to reach 68 victims due to the current security situation in Ituri, which is characterised by the resurgence of the 166 conflict and large displacement of the population. The Chamber further recalls that all the other victims that refused to have their identity disclosed to the Defence did so precisely out of concern for their security, and the dire security situation in Ituri, which the Chamber previously 167 found to be genuine and objective. In light of the above, the Chamber reiterates that the redactions implemented by the LRVs to the victims’ dossiers, including information that might reveal their identity, strikes the necessary balance required by article 68(1) of the Statute. In addition, as will be elaborated further below, the Chamber considers that, notwithstanding the
161 Defence May 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Red , para. 25. 162 Defence May 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Red , para. 24. 163 Defence May 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Red ,, para. 25. 164 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 137. 165 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 137. 166 CLR1 March 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2835 , para. 16; see also CLR2 March 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2836 , paras 25-26, 29. 167 Decision on the Request on behalf of the Convicted Person seeking communication of material by the Trust Fund for Victims and the lifting of redactions applied by the Registry and the Legal Representatives of Victims to the victims’ dossiers, 20 April 2023, ICC-01/04-02/06-2847 , para. 22; see also paras 18-20.
No. ICC-01/04-02/06 31/156 14 July 2023
redactions, the Defence has been able to make meaningful submissions on the victims’ eligibility. 66. Upon consideration of the official and unofficial documents provided to prove the victims’ identity included in the dossiers, the Chamber is satisfied that all 137 victims of the attacks provided proof of identity, consisting in a copy of their carte d’électeur. All 34 victims of crimes against child soldiers provided proof of identity, consisting of in either a copy of their carte d’électeur, or an attestation de carence or an attestation of the chef de collectivité , officer d’état civil , or the chef de groupement or an attestation de naissance. However, the Chamber finds that the quality of some of these documents is such that it did not allow it to precisely establish the victims’ identity. The Chamber therefore concludes that 134 victims of the attacks and 32 child soldiers have successfully established their identity. Annex II details which 168 169 victims are yet to establish their identity, which – as previously decided – can be done by the victims at the implementation stage, by submitting legible identity documents. ii. Issues related to the second requirement: direct or indirect victim status 67. As noted above, the Chamber considers that the precondition for victims to be eligible for reparations is to demonstrate, on a balance of probabilities, that they were direct or indirect victim of the crimes for which Mr Ntaganda was convicted. In what follows, the Chamber will detail the way in which it has conducted this assessment for both, victims of crimes against child soldiers and victims of the attacks. (a) Victims of crimes against child soldiers Potentially eligible direct victims: child soldier status 68. The Chamber notes that for a direct victim’s child soldier status to be established on a balance of probabilities the victim must have demonstrated to have been under the age of 15 years when conscripted or enlisted into the UPC/FPLC ranks between on or about 6 August 2002 and 31 December 2003, and/or used to participate actively in hostilities between on or 170 about 6 August 2002 and on or about 30 May 2003. The Chamber will now turn to these two criteria.
168 Namely, victims a/30069/15, a/30408/20, a/30438/20, a/30282/15, a/30286/15. 169 October 2022 Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2786 , para. 10. 170 See Lubanga Decision on Size of the Reparations Award, ICC-01/04-01/06-3379-Red-Corr-tENG , para. 78.
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1) The direct victim was under the age of 15 years of age during the time-frame relevant to the charges 69. In its submissions, the CRL1 indicates that all 34 victims she represents have established, to the required standard, that they were under the age of 15 when recruited into the UPC/FPLC between 6 August 2002 and 31 December 2003, and/or when they were used to participate actively in hostilities, and/or when they were raped while serving in the UPC/FPLC, 171 between 6 August 2002 and 30 May 2003. The CRL1 further submits that, while some of the victims were unable to provide a specific date of birth, all of them demonstrated to fall within the required age range. In addition, the CLR1 indicates that it is sufficient to take into account the specific facts and circumstances of the case, and those of the victim, to determine 172 that a victim meets the age requirement, as it has been established in the Lubanga case. 70. The Chamber notes that for a direct victim to have been under the age of 15 years during the time frame of the charges, he or she must have been born after 6 August 1987. The Chamber further recalls the Appeals Chamber’s finding in the Lubanga case that it is not required that the exact age of the victim be established, but only that the victim was under the age of 15 173 years. 71. Having reviewed all the child soldiers’ dossiers, with a view to verifying whether they fulfil this criterion, as further elaborated in Annex II, the Chamber concludes that all child soldiers in the sample have demonstrated to have been below the age of 15 at some point during the relevant time frame, i.e., between on or about 6 August 2002 and 31 December 2003. 2) The direct victim was conscripted or enlisted into the UPC/FPLC ranks between on or about 6 August 2002 and 31 December 2003, and/or used to participate actively in hostilities between on or about 6 August 2002 and 30 May2003 72. In its submissions, the CLR1 informs that all 34 victims in the sample have demonstrated to have been recruited and/or used to participate actively in hostilities by the 174 UPC/FPLC during the relevant time frame. According to the CLR1, although the level of details provided by the victims varies, all victims have provided sufficient information for the
171 CLR1 March 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2835 , para. 20. 172 CLR1 March 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2835 , para. 21. 173 Appeals Chamber, Judgment on the appeal of Mr Thomas Lubanga Dyilo against his conviction (‘Lubanga Appeals Judgment on Conviction’), 1 December 2014, ICC-01/04-01/06-3121-Red , para. 198. 174 CLR1 March 2023 Submissions , ICC-01/04-02/06-2835 , para. 22.
No. ICC-01/04-02/06 33/156 14 July 2023
purpose of determining their eligibility, either in the victim application itself or upon providing
175 supplementary information. The CLR1 further submits that, as also determined in the
Lubanga case, to meet the standard of proof and be found eligible, an applicant does not need
to provide information on a predetermined set of specific criteria, but multiple factors can be
taken into account, such as the victims’ ability to describe their training camp, the battles they
176 participated, the other chores they performed, and/or the names of certain commanders.
73 In its submission, the Defence generally challenges the child soldier status of the
victims in the Sample, indicating that the information provided in their dossiers does not
provide sufficient information regarding the victim’s commanders and unit within UPC/FPC,
when and how the victim demobilised, the victim’s involvement in the different battles he
177 mentioned, or who was with him. According to the Defence, a thorough description of the
battles should also be provided, including the armed groups involved, the locations, the
outcome, and at a minimum, names and contact details of others who were with them, as well
178 as information concerning the units and the commanders involved. Relatedly, the Defence
challenges the victims’ eligibility by contesting the information provided in their dossiers on
the grounds that some of the alleged battles either did not take place or are not mentioned in
179 the Judgment.
74 The Chamber recalls that, in light of his conviction, Mr Ntaganda cannot be held liable
for the recruitment and conscription of child soldiers into other armed groups, but only into the
180 UPC/FPLC. In that respect, the Chamber considers that, where a direct victim names at least
one commander, or one of the training camps, that, depending on the circumstances, may
181 suffice to establish that the victim did belong to the UPC/FPLC.
75 As in the Lubanga case, the Chamber notes that its assessment of this aspect is
182 qualitative rather than quantitative, as it does not require a set number of criteria to be met.
175 As mentioned above, the CLR1 informed that it contacted only one victim to provide supplementary information, as she deemed this to be the only instance where the information available was insufficient to inform the eligibility, see CLR1 March 2023 Submissions , ICC-01/04-02/06-2835 , paras 18, 22-23, 26. 176 CLR1 March 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2835 , para. 25. Annex A to the Defence’s submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Conf-AnxA, pp. 26, 35-38, 39-47, 81-82, 177 See 84-86, 110, 112, 130, 132-135, 145-146, 158-159, 161-162, 164, 166. 178 Annex A to the Defence’s submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Conf-AnxA, pp. 26, 35-38, 39-47, 81-82, 84- 86, 110, 112, 130, 132-135, 145-146, 158-159, 161-162, 164, 166. 179 See, for instance, Annex A to the Defence’s submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Conf-AnxA, pp. 26, 35, 39, 40-46, 82, 84-85, 87, 130, 132, 144-146, 158-160, 164, 166. 180 Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , paras 1116-1132. 181 Lubanga Decision on Size of the Reparations Award, ICC-01/04-01/06-3379-Red-Corr-tENG , para. 89. 182 Lubanga Decision on Size of the Reparations Award, ICC-01/04-01/06-3379-Red-Corr-tENG , para. 90.
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As such, the victim’s eligibility is determined by having regard to the quality of all the evidence
183 the victim provides, assessed according to the relevant standard, i.e. balance of probabilities.
The Chamber however underlines that it is not in a position to verify the veracity of the
information provided, as it is not in a position to check if a certain commander was in fact part
of the UPC/FPLC’s hierarchy, as some may have been mentioned during the case by their
184 nickname or not even mentioned.
76 The Chamber notes that the Judgment on the conviction of Mr Ntaganda, which sets
out the scope of Mr Ntaganda’s criminal responsibility and liability for reparations, 185 and was
186 fully confirmed by the Appeals Chamber, clearly delineates the crimes against child soldiers
of which Mr Ntaganda was convicted, and the time frame of the charges, i.e. for enlistment or
conscription, between on or about 6 August 2002 and 31 December 2003, and for use to
participate actively in hostilities between on or about 6 August 2002 and 30 May 2003. The
Judgment does not, however, exclusively enumerate the sites of the crimes committed or all
Mr Ntaganda’s co-perpetrators. 187 In addition, to the extent that the scope of the conviction in
188 the present case overlaps with the Lubanga case, the Chamber indicates that it will also rely,
where applicable and relevant, to findings in the Judgment pursuant to Article 74 of the Statute
189 190 against Mr Lubanga, which was also confirmed by the Appeals Chamber.
77 The Defence submits that some victims who provide as date of conscription or
enlistment a date outside the scope of the case, for instance, July 2002, raise the issue as to
whether they were a member of the UPC/FPLC under the age of 15 years during the relevant
time frame, arguing that what was sufficient to obtain participating victim status, but is not
191 necessarily sufficient to obtain reparations. As such, the Defence draws attention to the scope
of the charges and submits that inconsistencies and contradictions as to timing should be
192 considered in this context, and treated with an appropriate level of scrutiny.
183 Lubanga Decision on Size of the Reparations Award, ICC-01/04-01/06-3379-Red-Corr-tENG , para. 90. 184 Lubanga Decision on Size of the Reparations Award, ICC-01/04-01/06-3379-Red-Corr-tENG , para. 90. 185 Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , para. 1199. 186 Appeals Judgment on Conviction, ICC-01/04-02/06-2666-Red . 187 Lubanga Decision on Size of the Reparations Award, ICC-01/04-01/06-3379-Red-Corr-tENG , para. 91. 188 See also Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , paras 219-221. 189 See Trial Chamber I, The Prosecutor v Thomas Lubanga Dyilo, Judgment pursuant to Article 74 of the Statute (‘ Lubanga Conviction Judgment’), 14 March 2012, ICC-01/04-01/06-2842 . 190 Lubanga Appeals Judgment on Conviction, ICC-01/04-01/06-3121-Red . 191 See, for instance, Annex A to the Defence May 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Conf-AnxA, pp. 42, 43, 44, 84, 85, 86. 192 Defence May 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Red , para. 30.
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193 78. The Chamber recalls that conscription or enlistment is a continuous crime, and
consequently, the fact that a child soldier was enlisted or conscripted before the time frame of
the charges does not necessarily means that the enlistment or conscription did not extend into
194 the relevant time frame. It suffices that the child was enlisted or conscripted or that the child
195 participated actively in hostilities during the time frame of the charges.
79 It follows that, even when the potentially eligible victims refer to dates outside the time
frame for which Mr Ntaganda was convicted, it does not affect their credibility, for as long as
the victim establishes in a coherent and credible manner their enlistment, conscription and/or
use to participate actively in hostilities at any time during the relevant time frame, and that they
196 were under the age of 15 years at the relevant time.
80 The Defence also challenges the victims’ dossiers in relation to the training camps
where victims allegedly trained, indicating that: (i) the Chamber did not make specific findings
197 regarding Nioka training camp; and (ii) victims could not have trained in Madro camp in
198 199 February 2003 or April 2003 as the camp was closed as of the end of December
2002/beginning of January 2003.
81 Regarding the locations of training camps, the Chamber recalls that in the Judgment,
the Chamber found that the UPC/FPLC operated different training camps, which included
200 Mandro and its several locations, Rwampara, Bule, Fataki, Largu, Bunia, and Lingo.
However, the Chamber underlines that it did not mean to be exhaustive in relation to the
locations of the training camps enumerated in the Judgment, as illustrated by its use of the word
‘including’ when referring to such locations. 201 It follows that allegations by victims as to
trainings in camps not included in the Judgement will be taken into considerations where the
202 accounts are coherent and credible as to the facts alleged.
193 Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , para. 1104. 194 Lubanga Decision on Size of the Reparations Award, ICC-01/04-01/06-3379-Red-Corr-tENG , para. 89. 195 Lubanga Decision on Size of the Reparations Award, ICC-01/04-01/06-3379-Red-Corr-tENG , para. 89. 196 Lubanga Decision on Size of the Reparations Award, ICC-01/04-01/06-3379-Red-Corr-tENG , para. 94. 197 See, for instance, Annex A to the Defence’s submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Conf-AnxA, p. 36. 198 Annex A to the Defence’s submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Conf-AnxA, p. 26. 199 Annex A to the Defence’s submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Conf-AnxA, p. 135. 200 Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , paras 364-370. 201 Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , para. 370. 202 For a similar approach, see , Lubanga Decision on Size of the Reparations Award, ICC-01/04-01/06-3379-Red- Corr-tENG , para. 142.
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82 As to the closure of Mandro camp, the Chamber recalls that in its Judgment, on the basis of the testimony of a witness, it found that the training camp became functional in May 203 2002, and was closed by the end of December 2002/beginning of January 2003. In addition, the Chamber notes that in the Lubanga case, referring to Mandro camp, a witness testified that when he ‘returned to Mandro in March 2003, it had been attacked and the recruits had left, leaving only soldiers who had taken up combat positions in the camp, including one “young” 204 soldier who was a bodyguard for one of the commanders’. In light of the foregoing, the Chamber underlines that it will pay particular attention to allegations by victims as to their training in the Mandro camp, taking into account its findings above as to the months of operation. 3) The direct victim was a child soldier who was also a victim of rape and/or sexual slavery between on or about 6 August 2002 and 31 December 2003, in Ituri or a child born out of the crime of rape or sexual slavery committed between on or about 6 August 2002 and 31 December 2003 83. The Chamber notes that for the child soldiers who were also victims of rape and/or sexual slavery or children born out of these crimes, the direct victim must demonstrate, on a balance of probabilities, the status of child soldier, and additionally, having been a victim of rape and/or sexual slavery between on or about 6 August 2002 and 31 December 2003, in Ituri or that it was a child born out of the crime of rape or sexual slavery committed between on or about 6 August 2002 and 31 December 2003. Potentially eligible indirect victims 84. The Chamber reiterates that, to qualify as indirect victim of the crimes against child soldiers, the person must prove, on a balance of probabilities: a) the child soldier status of the direct victim and, when applicable, that the direct victim was also a victim of rape and/or sexual slavery or was a child born out of rape or sexual slavery; and b) that the person falls within one of the categories of indirect victims recognised by the Chamber and that he or she have personally suffered harm because of the commission of a crime against the direct victim. 85. The Chamber indicates that the same criteria as indicated above are applicable to prove the child soldier status of the direct victim and where applicable, that they were also a victim
203 Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , para. 365. 204 The Chamber notes that Trial Chamber I found this witness’s testimony as credible and consistent, Lubanga Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-01/06-2842 , paras 809, 811.
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of rape and/or sexual slavery or a children born out of rape or sexual slavery. However, as in the Lubanga case, the Chamber considers that it cannot require the same level of detail as from the direct victims, and as such, it will consider the information provided by indirect victims on a case-by-case basis, having regard to the indirect victims’ credible and coherent account, and 205 any other corroborating information or evidence. 86. Regarding indirect victim status, the Chamber reiterates that in the Reparations Order it recognised the four categories of indirect victims previously identified in the Lubanga 206 207 case, as upheld on appeals. In addition, the Chamber underlined that the key aspect is for indirect victims to prove that they suffered personal harm because of the commission of a crime 208 against the direct victims. This can be demonstrated, for example, through the ‘close personal relationship’ with the direct victim or, in case of persons who do not have a close personal relationship, demonstrating that the direct victim was nevertheless of significant 209 importance in their lives. The Chamber further notes that this approach was confirmed by the Appeals Chamber, which additionally found that in determining whether a direct victim was of significant importance to a person requesting to be recognised as an indirect victim, eligibility shall be guided by the criterion of ‘special bonds of affection or dependence connecting the applicant with the direct victim’, which ‘captures the essence of inter-personal 210 relations, the destruction of which is conducive to an injury on the part of indirect victims’. 87. The Chamber considers that, concretely, this could be established through multiple types of documents, including an electoral card where the parents’ names appear, or by statements of two credible witnesses establishing that the indirect victim lived in the same 211 household with the direct victim, or by an official document signed and stamped by a chief of locality demonstrating kinship, or any official or unofficial document demonstrating the special bond or dependence between the direct and indirect victim.
205 See also , Lubanga Decision on Size of the Reparations Award, ICC-01/04-01/06-3379-Red-Corr-tENG , paras 161, 163, 165. 206 See Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 139. 207 Lubanga Amended Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-01/06-3129-AnxA , para. 6. 208 See Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , paras 125-128. 209 See Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 127. 210 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 628. 211 See Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 145.
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Chamber determination 88. Having analysed the 34 dossiers of victims of crimes against child soldier crimes, using the aforementioned criteria, the Chamber has come to the conclusion that (i) 32 of them have established, on a balance of probabilities, their eligibility as direct victims of conscription or enlistment into the UPC/FPLC between on or about 6 August 2002 and 31 December 2003, and/or used to participate actively in hostilities between on or about 6 August 2002 and on or about 30 May 2003; (ii) 16 victims have additionally established, on a balance of probabilities, their eligibility as direct victims of rape and/or sexual slavery between on or about 6 August 2002 and 31 December 2003, in Ituri; and (iii) two victims have provisionally established, on a balance of probabilities, their eligibility as direct victims of conscription or enlistment into the UPC/FPLC between on or about 6 August 2002 and 31 December 2003, and/or used to participate actively in hostilities between on or about 6 August 2002 and on or about 30 May 2003. The Chamber notes that the two victims deemed provisionally eligible victims will be entitled to benefit from reparations, following the submission of legible documents to establish 212 their identity at the implementation stage. 89. The Chamber notes that no victims in the Sample claimed to be an indirect victim of the crimes against child soldiers. (b) Victims of the attacks Potentially eligible direct victims 90. As noted above, regarding the second requirement, victims of the attacks will need to demonstrate, on a balance of probabilities, to be a direct victim of at least one of the crimes 213 committed during the First or Second Operation and for which Mr Ntaganda was convicted. In addition, the Chamber recalls that the victims have amply explained the reasons for their inability to produce additional documents, which has been corroborated by multiple other 214 sources. Accordingly, the Chamber will verify (i) whether the victims’ account corresponds to the Chamber’s findings as to the crimes for which Mr Ntaganda was convicted; and (ii) the coherence and credibility of the victims’ account, and whether it is consistent with other victims’ accounts. The Chamber will now turn to these two criteria.
212 October 2022 Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2786 , para. 10. 213 See section III.A.3.b) above. 214 See section III.A.4.a)iv. above.
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1) Whether the victims’ account corresponds to the Chamber’s findings as to crimes for which Mr Ntaganda was convicted. 91. The Chamber notes that, as it held regarding child soldiers, its assessment of this requirement is qualitative rather than quantitative. Victims do not need to provide information on a predetermined set of specific criteria, but rather multiple factors can be taken into account. In its assessment, the Chamber will pay attention to the information provided in the victims’ dossier, to verify whether the date of the event, village/town, description of events as pertaining to the various types of crimes, and perpetrators correspond to the Chamber’s findings in its Judgment regarding the crimes for which Mr Ntaganda was found guilty, in light of the clarifications provided in its decision from 15 December 2020 (the ‘December 2020 Decision’). 215
92 To this end, the Chamber recalls that, in light of his conviction, Mr Ntaganda cannot be 216 held liable for crimes committed by other armed groups, but only by the UPC/FPLC. In that respect, the Chamber considers that, where a direct victim names the UPC/FPLC soldiers or 217 Hema civilians, in the case of pillaging in Mongbwalu, as being responsible for their suffering, that might, depending on the circumstances, suffice to establish that the victim 218 suffered crimes at the hand of the UPC/FPLC. 93. Regarding the scope of the case, the Chamber notes that the CLR2 submits that, in light of the Chamber’s findings in the Conviction and Sentencing Judgments as to the widespread and systematic nature and scale of the crimes committed by Ntaganda, the case record sufficiently demonstrates that, on a balance of probabilities, almost all victims of the attacks 219 included in the Sample suffered from the crimes they described. The CLR2 also argues that this is further corroborated by the similarities of the account of the different victims of the 220 attacks. 94. The CLR2 also draws the Chamber’s attention to a common characteristic in the supplementary information provided by the victims, in that the majority of inhabitants of each
215 Decision on issues raised in the Registry’s First Report on Reparations (‘December 2020 Decision’), 15 December 2020, ICC-01/04-02/06-2630 . 216 Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , para. 1199, disposition. 217 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 114; Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , paras 1199, 1032, 1035-1036; for factual findings, see paras 512, 514-517. 218 See Lubanga Decision on Size of the Reparations Award, ICC-01/04-01/06-3379-Red-Corr-tENG , para. 89. 219 CLR2 March 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2836 , paras 35-37. 220 CLR2 March 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2836 , para. 37.
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of the affected villages were forced to flee the attacks and to hide in the nearby bush/forest for 221 safety, where they endured difficult conditions for extensive periods of time. The CLR2 posits that the continuing persecution in the bush/forest did not just affect the victims who originated from villages for which the Chamber rendered ‘positive findings’, but that the persecution also affected victims from villages in which no ‘positive findings’ were 222 determined. The CLR2 posits that victims who fled their village before the start of attacks may also be found eligible provided that they personally suffered harm as a result of being forced to flee and hide in the bush/forest around the locations for which the Chamber reached ‘positive findings’. 223
95 In its submissions, the Defence stresses that not all victims who suffered harm during the First or Second Operations are eligible for reparations, and that, instead, there must be a 224 clear link to a crime for which Mr Ntaganda was convicted, as set forth in the Judgment. 96. At the outset, the Chamber notes, as discussed in more detail below, that it was not proven at trial that Mr Ntaganda was responsible for crimes committed against the entirety of 225 the 13 communities included in the conviction. Further, the Chamber recalls that, for the sake of clarity, it has detailed in Annex I to the present Addendum the specific crimes and locations for which Mr Ntaganda was convicted, particularly in relation to the victims of the 226 attacks. On this point, as noted by the Defence, not all victims who suffered harm during the First or Second Operations are eligible for reparations. In effect, the Chamber will strictly take into account its positive and negative findings as to Mr Ntaganda’s criminal responsibility, as included in the Judgment, in light of the aspects further clarified in the December 2020 227 Decision. Detailed conclusions regarding each of the victims in the sample are included in Annex II. 97. As to the alleged date of the events and the ‘ Shika Na Mukon o’ operation, the Chamber notes the Defence’s submissions that the standard of ‘sufficiently close in time to the relevant time frames’, introduced by the Chamber for participation purposes is not precise enough for reparations, and that the standard of the ‘balance of probabilities’ necessitates greater
221 CLR2 March 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2836 , para. 24. 222 CLR2 March 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2836 , para. 24. 223 CLR2 March 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2836 , para. 24. 224 Defence May 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Red , paras 32-33, 35. 225 See Section III.E.2 below. 226 Defence May 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Red, paras 32-33, 35. 227 December 2020 Decision, ICC-01/04-02/06-2630 .
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228 specificity in the temporal scope. While the Defence acknowledges the impact of the passing of time on the memory of victims, it submits that careful scrutiny must be given to the timing 229 of the harm alleged by the victims, and the link with the crimes. According to the Defence, the starting point for the Chamber’s analysis must be that the date of the harm must be known to a genuine victim, and inconsistencies and contradictions as to the timing should be 230 considered in this context, and treated with an appropriate level of scrutiny. In addition, the Defence takes issue with the victims’ general indication of the time of the alleged crimes during ‘Shika Na Mukono’, which it alleges is insufficient to obtain reparations. 231
98 As to the dates of alleged events and the reference to the ‘Shika Na Mukono’ operation, the Chamber recalls that in its Conviction Judgment and in the December 2020 Decision, it addressed the matter of inconsistencies and inaccuracies regarding dates in the victims’ 232 accounts. Therein, the Chamber acknowledged that although it considered the testimony of dozens of witnesses credible and reliable regarding the occurrence and details of the events, in light of ‘the time elapsed since the relevant events took place, as well the likely impact of the events on the witnesses’ ability to remember specific dates’, it did not rely on their testimonies 233 to establish the precise dates of the attacks. As such, the Chamber reiterates that inconsistencies, contradictions and particularly inaccuracies as to dates, including the reference to the Shika Na Mukono operation, do not automatically exclude victims from their eligibility to reparations, and the assessment should be made on a case-by-case basis, depending on the victim’s personal circumstances, and taking into account all aspects of their victims’ dossiers, as elaborated above. 99. As to the facts as pertaining to the various types of crimes, the Chamber recalls that in its Conviction Judgment, it set out in detail, based on its factual findings, the underlying acts for each of the 18 counts for which Mr Ntaganda was convicted. As such, in assessing the victims’ dossiers, the Chamber has taken into consideration the victims’ accounts as a whole, paying attention to facts alleged by the victims, including the dates, village, description of events, and verifying whether they correspond to the crimes included in the Conviction
228 Defence May 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Red , para. 27. 229 Defence May 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Red , para. 29. 230 Defence May 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Red , para. 30. 231 See, for instance, Annex A to the Defence’s submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Conf-AnxA, pp. 12-13, 15- 17, 60-64, 131, 140-141, 148, 152-153, 155, 166-167. 232 Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , footnote 1391; December 2020 Decision, ICC-01/04-02/06- 2630 , paras 37, 42. 233 Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , footnote 1391.
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Judgment, as specified in the December 2020 Decision. If the Chamber has made either no findings or has made negative findings in relation to the facts alleged by the victims, the Chamber cannot consider the person to be a victim of the crimes for which Mr Ntaganda was convicted. To the contrary, if the Chamber has made a positive finding in relation to the facts alleged by the victims, the Chamber will proceed to assess the information in the victims’ dossier, particularly, the intrinsic coherence and credibility of the victims’ account and whether it is consistent with the accounts other victims, in order to determine whether the person has established, on a balance of probabilities, to be a victim of the crimes for which Mr Ntaganda was convicted. 2) The coherence, credibility, and consistency of the victims’ accounts 100. As outlined above, the CLR2 submits that a series of factors should be considered when determining what constitutes ‘a coherent and credible’ in relation to the victims of the 234 attacks. In its submissions, the Defence takes issue with the CLR2’s submission that the eligibility of victims should be determined in accordance with the standard of ‘credible and coherent’ account, warning about the risk that anyone applying for reparations with a ‘good’ 235 narrative could be deemed eligible. 101. The Defence submits that, instead, the Chamber should consider the following criteria when assessing the victim’ coherence and credibility: (i) the victims’ account must be assessed on the basis of the information provided, and how it fits with the events established in the existing evidence. The plausibility of the narrative provided by a victim is one of the most important factors to be considered when assessing the weight which can be attributed to their application, which can be deducted from the details regarding the events as they unfolded; (ii) there must be no significant inconsistencies or contradictions in the victim’s narrative, and in particular, if a narrative contains descriptions which clearly do not match the evidence on the record, in part or in whole, it cannot be considered coherent and credible; and (iii) all parties must avoid engaging in speculation. The Defence notes that the CLR2 alleged that ‘is more likely than not’ that some victims suffered certain crimes, although the applicant never having 236 suffered the crimes, and submits that this amounts to speculation.
234 CLR2 March 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2836 , para. 30. 235 Defence May 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Red , para. 44. 236 Defence May 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Red , paras 45-48.
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102 As to the Defence’s concern on the Chamber’s assessment of the dossiers and approach to the standard of ‘credible and coherent’ account, the Chamber recalls its findings above as to the applicable standard. Furthermore, the Chamber reiterates that, in accordance with the Court’s previous jurisprudence, 237 slight discrepancies or information that do not fully overlap when victims submitted more than one application or have provided supplementary information, does not, on its face, cast doubt on the victims’ credibility. Regarding alleged speculations as to whether the victims have in fact suffered certain crimes, the Chamber reiterates that when assessing the victims’ dossiers, it pays close attention and assesses the information as provided by the victims in their accounts and does not make inferences as to 238 possible crimes. 103. As such, when assessing the victims’ accounts, the Chamber has paid attention to their intrinsic coherence and credibility, and whether they are consistent with other victims’ accounts in relation to the facts alleged. Thereafter, having regard to the victims’ account and in light of its own findings in the Conviction Judgment, as specified in the December 2020 Decision, the Chamber concludes whether the applicant has established, on a balance of probabilities, to be 239 a direct victim of the crimes for which Mr Ntaganda was convicted. 3) Victims of rape and/or sexual slavery 104. The Chamber notes that the victims of the attacks may have also suffered rape and/or sexual slavery for which Mr Ntaganda’s was convicted or be children born out of these 240 241 crimes. In accordance with the Reparations Order’s findings, which were accepted by the 242 Appeals Chamber, the victim’s coherent and credible account shall be accepted as sufficient evidence to establish their eligibility on a balance of probabilities. Potentially eligible indirect victims 105. The Chamber reiterates that, to qualify as an indirect victim of the attacks, the person must prove, on a balance of probabilities: a) the victim status of the direct victim; and b) that the person falls within one of the categories of indirect victims recognised by the Chamber and
237 See also Lubanga Decision on Size of the Reparations Award, ICC-01/04-01/06-3379-Red-Corr-tENG , para. 64; Katanga Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-01/07-3728-tENG , para. 70. 238 For the Chamber’s detailed approach see Annex I. 239 For a similar approach, see, Katanga Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-01/07-3728-tENG , para. 50. 240 Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , para. 1199. 241 See Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 139. 242 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 714.
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that he or she have personally suffered harm because of the commission of a crime against the direct victim. 106. The Chamber notes that the same criteria as indicated above are applicable to prove the victim’s status of the direct victim. However, as it was also held in the case of child soldiers, the Chamber considers that it cannot require the same level of detail as from the direct victims, and as such, it will consider the information provided by indirect victims on a case-by-case basis, having regard to the indirect victims’ credible and coherent account, and any other 243 corroborating information or evidence. 107. Regarding the indirect victim status and the personal harm suffered by the indirect victim because of the commission of a crime against the direct victim, the Chamber notes that the same criteria as indicated above for child soldiers are applicable in relation to the victims 244 of the attacks. Issues related to the status of victims 108. In its submissions, the Defence challenges the eligibility of victims in relation to Counts 245 1 and 2, and Count 3. Specifically, regarding counts 1 and 2, the Defence indicates that the occupation at the time of the persons allegedly murdered must be provided, to understand whether the victims or members of the immediate family took place in fighting, referring to 246 victims allegedly murdered in Kobu and Sayo. The Chamber recalls that in its Judgment, it found beyond reasonable doubt that people protected under international humanitarian law (‘IHL’) were killed in Kobu and Sayo. 247 In light of the positive findings made in the Conviction Judgment, the Chamber considers that, on a balance of probabilities, it is more likely than not that, if the victims’ applications concern the killing of people in Kobu and Sayo, that the direct victims were civilians not actively taking part in hostilities or otherwise persons hors de combat .
243 See also , Lubanga Decision on Size of the Reparations Award, ICC-01/04-01/06-3379-Red-Corr-tENG , paras 161, 163, 165. 244 See section III.A.4.b.ii.(a) above. 245 See, for instance, Annex A to the Defence’s submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Conf-AnxA, pp. 6, 9, 11, 20, 21, 33, 35, 49, 77, 87, 92, 101-104, 106, 108, 109, 114, 118-120, 127, 149, 151, 168. 246 See, for instance, Annex A to the Defence’s submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Conf-AnxA, pp. 11, 20, 33, 35, 49, 77, 87, 104, 109, 114, 127, 151, 168. 247 For the Chamber’s positive findings in relation to Kobu and Sayo, see Annex I to the Addendum.
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109 The Chamber further recalls the general presumption of civilian status under IHL and 248 that, in case of doubt, a person shall be considered to be a civilian. The present proceedings do not concern the determination of guilt of an accused beyond reasonable doubt, for which findings were already made in the Conviction Judgment. The Chamber therefore does not consider that the absence of information in the applications, concerning the occupation of the victims (or of their immediate family members) at the time of the alleged murder, precludes it from finding on a balance of probabilities that the victims are entitled to reparations. In this regard, whether the applications actually fall within the scope of the positive findings made in the Conviction Judgment for Kobu and Sayo will ultimately depend on the Chamber’s assessment of the victims’ account, as well as their coherence, credibility, and consistency.
110 The Chamber notes that the Defence also made similar submissions regarding the status 249 and occupation of victims and/or their family members in relation to Count 3. The Chamber recalls that in its Conviction Judgment, it found beyond reasonable doubt that attacks against civilians as a war crime were carried out in Mongbwalu and Sayo in the context of the First 250 Operation, and in Bambu, Jitchu, and Buli, in the context of the Second Operation. 111. With regard to Mongbwalu and Sayo, the Chamber notes that the Conviction Judgment found beyond reasonable doubt that the UPC/FPLC indiscriminately attacked all Lendu, civilians and fighters alike. It also recalled that the incidents under Count 3 relate to the 251 intended object of the attacks and not to who was actually killed as a result of armed force, 252 and as such found that the UPC/FPLC directed an attack against civilians. Similarly, the Chamber found that the UPC/FPLC soldiers fired indiscriminately against civilians in Bambu, and that no reasonable person could have believed that the civilians shot at during the assaults 253 254 on Jitchu and Buli were directly participating in hostilities.
248 See Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , para. 883. 249 See, for instance, Annex A to the Defence’s submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Conf-AnxA, pp. 6, 9, 92, 101-103, 106, 108, 109, 114, 118-120, 149. 250 For the Chamber’s positive findings in relation to attacks against civilians as a war crime, see Annex I to the Addendum. 251 The Chamber notes that with regard to three applications, the Defence submissions encompassed both Counts 1 and/or 2, and Count 3. See the Annex, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Conf-AnxA, in particular, applications a/00547/13 and a/000795/13, at pp. 33, 49-50, respectively. 252 See Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , para. 923. 253 The Chamber notes that the Defence’s submissions encompassed Counts 1, 2 and 3 with regard to application a/01720/13. See the Annex, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Conf-AnxA, pp. 110-111. 254 See Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , paras 926-927.
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112 In light of the findings made in the Conviction Judgment and taking into account the presumption of civilian status under IHL, the Chamber considers that the account of persons claiming to be victims of Mongbwalu, Sayo, Bambu, Jitchu, and Buli shall be assessed on a case-by-case basis in order to determine whether they are persons protected under IHL. Consequently, the Chamber does not consider that the absence of information concerning the occupation of the victims (or of their immediate family members) in their dossiers precludes a finding, on a balance of probabilities, that the victims are entitled to reparations. Chamber determination 113. Having analysed the 137 dossiers of victims of the attacks using the aforementioned criteria, the Chamber has come to the conclusion that (i) 89 of them have established, on a balance of probabilities, their eligibility as direct victims of the attacks; a (ii) 27 of them have 255 established, on a balance of probabilities, their eligibility as indirect victims of the attacks; (iii) eight have provisionally established, on a balance of probabilities, their eligibility as direct 256 victims of the attacks; and iv) 39 victims have not established, on a balance of probabilities, their eligibility as direct or indirect victims of the attacks The Chamber notes that the eight victims that have provisionally established their eligibility, will be entitled to benefit from 257 reparations following the submission of legible documents to establish their identity, or after the Registry establishes the relevant distance between the victims’ village and the location for which the Chamber made a positive finding in the Conviction Judgment, as elaborated in 258 Annex II. As previously held, the victims assessed as not eligible will have the opportunity 259 to supplement their dossiers and clarify their accounts at the implementation stage. iii. Issues related to the third requirement: harm (a) Reparations Order 114. The Chamber recalls that in its Reparations Order, after the Chamber has considered all relevant information before it - including the Conviction Judgment, the Sentencing Judgment, the evidence submitted during the trial and sentencing proceedings, observations by the parties and other participants in the proceedings, including the Registry, the TFV, and the Appointed
255 The Chamber clarifies that 26 victims have established to be both direct and indirect victims of certain crimes. 256 The Chamber clarifies that in fact one of these victims, a/01635/13, has a provisional status as both direct and indirect victim. 257 See , victims a/30069/15, a/30282/15, and a/30286/15. 258 See , victims a/01200/13, a/01269/13, a/30003/15, a/01566/13, a/01635/13. 259 October 2022 Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2786 , para. 10.
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260 Experts - it defined the different types of harm caused to direct and indirect victims of crimes
261 262 against child soldiers and of the attacks.
115 In addition, in light of the harms identified and being mindful of the difficulties to
obtain or produce evidence to substantiate them, the Chamber decided that the use of
263 presumptions was appropriate, once a victim has proved, on a balance of probabilities, to be
264 a victim of the crimes for which Mr Ntaganda was convicted. Accordingly, in the
Reparations Order, the Chamber presumed: 1) material, physical, and psychological harm for
(i) former child soldiers; (ii) direct victims of rape and sexual slavery; and (iii) indirect victims
who are close family members of direct victims of the crimes against child soldiers, rape, and
265 sexual slavery; 2) physical and psychological harm for (i) direct victims of attempted
murder; and (ii) direct victims of the crimes committed during the attacks, who personally
266 experienced the attacks; and 3) psychological harm for (i) victims who lost their home or
material assets with a significant effect on their daily life; and (ii) indirect victims who are
267 close family members of direct victims of murder.
(b) Appeals Chamber findings
116 Regarding the presumptions of harm established in the Reparations Order, the Appeals
Judgment noted that the Chamber ‘duly referred to the information on which it relied to make
the seven presumptions, i.e. the Conviction Judgment, the Sentencing Judgment, the expert
reports, submissions from the TFV and Victims Group 2, and jurisprudence from the Appeals
268 Chamber as well as decisions from other chambers’. Furthermore, the Appeals Chamber
noted that the Defence was able to fully challenge the expert reports and the submissions of the
victims and the TFV on which the Chamber relied to make the presumptions in the case at
hand. As such, it concluded that it did not find an error in the way that the Chamber adopted
269 these presumptions. However, as it will be addressed in detail below, regarding the
presumption of physical harm for the victims of the attacks, the Appeals Chamber found that
260 See Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 148. 261 See Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , paras 161-1176, 181, 183. 262 See Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , paras 148-160, 177-182. 263 See Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 145. 264 See Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 143. 265 See Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 145. 266 See Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 146. 267 See Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 146. 268 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 688. 269 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 688.
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270 the Chamber erred in reaching, without more, its conclusions and remanded the matter for the Chamber to address the Defence’s submissions and provide sufficient reasoning for its 271 findings. 117. At the same time, the Appeals Chamber observed that the aforementioned is without prejudice to the Defence’s right to challenge the applicability of presumptions for the purposes of the Sample and in relation to the procedure that the Chamber will eventually adopt for the screening of victims’ eligibility at the implementation stage. 272 As the Appeals Chamber further indicated, considering that presumptions of fact are rebuttable, and shift the burden of proof to those who wish to challenge their applicability, it is expected that the Chamber will devise an avenue whereby the Defence is provided with a reasonable opportunity to rebut presumptions 273 in proceedings before the Chamber. This would be complied, the Appeals Chamber noted, by granting the Defence access, when the Chamber assesses the Sample, to at least a minimum amount of information contained in the applications, with the necessary redactions, so as to 274 allow it to make specific submissions and provide evidence to rebut the presumptions. (c) Parties submissions 118. In their submissions, the LRVs refer to the presumptions to establish certain harms as included in the Reparations Order, which in their view have not been disturbed by the Appeals 275 Chamber and remain applicable. In particular, the CLR2 submits that insofar as the victims of the attacks satisfy the standard of eligibility, they should be found eligible for reparations, 276 since the Chamber held that presumptions are applicable regarding their harm. The CLR2 further submits that presumptions can apply when circumstances are such that obtaining or providing evidence other than by providing a coherent and credible narrative would be extremely onerous or impossible, and indicated its support for the presumptions as established 277 by the Chamber. The CLR2 further submits that contrary to the Katanga case, where individual reparations were ordered which required the specific assessment of individual harm, in light of the type of reparations awarded in this case, i.e. collective reparations with
270 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 701. 271 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 701. 272 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 689. 273 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 689. 274 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 689. 275 CLR1 March 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2835 , para. 10; see also CLR2 March 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2836 , para. 38. 276 CLR2 March 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2836 , para. 38. 277 CLR2 March 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2836 , para. 38.
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278 individualised components, this is not required in the present case. Instead, the CLR2 argues, for victims of destruction of property, pillaging, or those who were forced to flee the violence and hide in the bush/forest, establishing exactly how the victim was disadvantaged is not required for the purposes of the eligibility assessment, as the majority, if not all victims, suffered ‘multi-dimensional harm’ due to the ‘mass victimisation’ involved. 279
119 In its submissions, the Defence indicates that the description of the harm suffered and how it was caused is important, and a victim’s narrative which simply refers to harm suffered 280 as a result of an attack by the UPC/FPLC is not sufficient. The Defence reiterates that for a claim to be sufficiently detailed and verifiable, it must be supported by information or documents, and where an applicant fails to provide the required information or documents, they must provide an adequate justification for why the materials could not be obtained, which must 281 itself be verifiable. The Defence further indicates that, while it accepts that formal recognition of harm may not be possible (e.g., through a death certificate or hospital records), it is not sufficient to simply stop the investigation there, some other proof must be furnished, including, at a minimum, declarations from non-interested third parties to establish any details 282 for which the sole source of information would otherwise be the applicant. 120. Furthermore, the Defence exemplifies the information that should be required where there is an allegation of harm for the destruction of a victim’s house. 283 In support of this allegation, the Defence submits that the applicant must provide proof of ownership, in addition to either: (i) proof of this destruction, in the form of official records, other documentary evidence or the testimony of witnesses, relatives or others; or (ii) if there is no proof of the destruction, evidence justifying why there is no proof of destruction, including any of the same 284 forms of evidence. According to the Defence, it is not sufficient for the victims to state that they have lost the property title or that the fact that their house was destroyed could be 285 confirmed by the neighbours at that time whose location is not known. Instead, the applicant must provide all known details of the relevant attack, as well as details of the original document
278 CLR2 March 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2836 , paras 39-40. 279 CLR2 March 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2836 , para. 40. 280 Defence May 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Red , para. 34. 281 Defence May 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Red , para. 38. 282 Defence May 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Red , para. 38. 283 Defence May 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Red , para. 39. 284 Defence May 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Red , para. 39. 285 Defence May 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Red , para. 39.
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and why it cannot be replaced, and at minimum, the applicant should provide the names and 286 particulars of those who may be aware of the circumstances of the harm suffered.
(d) Chamber determination 287 121. At the outset, the Chamber notes that, in accordance with the Appeals Judgment, the Defence has received all the victims’ dossiers included in the Sample, with the appropriate redactions, and has had the opportunity to make submissions and comment on them. 122. In addition, the Chamber notes that in their submissions on the Sample, the LRVs 288 support the use of presumptions as established in the Reparations Order. The Defence did not challenge, as such, the use of presumptions, but reiterated what is in its view needed to 289 demonstrate the existence of any type of harm. In light of the above, the Chamber maintains its use of presumptions as adopted in the Reparations Order, with the exception of the presumption of physical harm for victims of the attacks, which is addressed by the Chamber in section D below. Victims of crimes against child soldiers 123. The Chamber maintains its presumptions of material, physical, and psychological harm for (i) former child soldiers; (ii) direct victims of rape and sexual slavery; and (iii) indirect victims who are close family members of direct victims of the crimes against child soldiers, 290 rape, and sexual slavery. The Chamber recalls that close family members apart from parents, 291 children, spouses, and siblings are those members of a family living within the same household. 124. Regarding the harm of indirect victims who are not close family members, i.e. those members of a family beyond parents, children, spouses, siblings, and others not living within 292 the same household, the Chamber recalls that what is essential for indirect victims to demonstrate is that they have suffered personal harm as a result of the commission of the crimes
286 Defence May 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Red , para. 39. 287 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 689. 288 CLR1 March 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2835 , para. 10; see also CLR2 March 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2836 , para. 38. 289 Defence May 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Red , paras 34, 38. 290 See Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 145. 291 As adopted at the pre-trial stage in the same case by the Singe Judge, see Decision on Victims' Participation at the Confirmation of Charges Hearing and in the Related Proceedings, 15 January 2014, ICC-01/04-02/06-211 , para. 48. 292 See Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 145.
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293 committed against the direct victim. To establish that, in light of the lack of the proof of documentation to establish the existence of harm, and taking into account that the victims will first have to establish their eligibility as direct/indirect victims on the basis of the elements elaborated above, the Chamber will have regard to the victims’ coherent and credible account as to the harm suffered. Victims of the attacks 125. Similarly, the Chamber maintains its presumptions of 1) material, physical, and psychological harm for (i) direct victims of rape and sexual slavery; and (ii) indirect victims 294 who are close family members of direct victims of rape, and sexual slavery; 2) psychological harm for (i) direct victims of attempted murder; and (ii) direct victims of the crimes committed 295 during the attacks, who personally experienced the attacks; and 3) psychological harm for (i) victims who lost their home or material assets with a significant effect on their daily life; 296 and (ii) indirect victims who are close family members of direct victims of murder. 126. In addition to the presumptions above, the Chamber notes that in their dossiers, the victims allege that they have also suffered other types of harm as a result of the crimes for which Mr Ntaganda was found guilty. Having carefully analysed the victims’ allegations, confronted with the same problem of lack of documentation to support the existence of harm, and taking into account that the victims will first have to establish their eligibility as direct/indirect victim on the basis of the elements elaborated above, the Chamber has decided to approach the various types of harm that are not covered by presumptions as set out below. 127. Regarding material harm: i) as a result of destruction of property and/or pillaging, the Chamber notes that, once a victim has established on a balance of probabilities to be a direct victim of destruction of property and/or pillaging, the Chamber does not consider it necessary to scrutinise the specifics of the material harm suffered by the victim, or determine its exact amount, in light of the nature of these crimes (that inherently presuppose material harm) and the type of reparations awarded in this case – service-based collective reparations with individualised components, as opposed to individual reparations; ii) when as a result of the murder of a direct victim who is a family member of the indirect victim who became
293 See Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 125. 294 See Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 145. 295 See Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 146. 296 See Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 146.
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responsible for the care of the surviving dependants of the direct victim of murder, the Chamber considers that the victim has also suffered material harm as a result of their relative’ death, as long as the person can demonstrate a) the kinship between the deceased direct victim and their dependants; and b) that the applicant is a family member of the deceased direct victim who is taking care of the surviving dependants. 128. Regarding transgenerational harm, as set out in more detail below, a child of a direct victim claiming to have suffered transgenerational harm, would generally need to prove: (i) that a direct victim suffered harm as a result of a crime for which Mr Ntaganda was convicted; (ii) that the child of the direct victim suffered harm; (iii) that the child’s harm arises out of the harm suffered by the direct victim; and (iv) the parent-child relationship. 129. Regarding the harm of indirect victims who are not close family members, i.e., those 297 members of a family not living within the same household, the Chamber recalls that what is essential for indirect victims to demonstrate is that they have suffered personal harm as a result 298 of the commission of the crimes committed against the direct victim. To establish that, the Chamber will assess whether the victim’s account of the harm suffered is coherent and credible. 130. Regarding any other harm as a result of crimes not covered by presumptions, the Chamber notes that once an applicant has established on a balance of probabilities to be a direct or indirect victim of any of the crimes included in the Conviction Judgment, the Chamber will assess whether the victims’ account of the harm suffered is credible and coherent. iv. Issues related to the fourth requirement: causal link between the harm and the crimes 131. The Chamber recalls that in its Conviction Judgment it has found Mr Ntaganda guilty as direct perpetrator and as an indirect co-perpetrator of 18 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, which affected child soldiers, victims of the attacks, their families, and other 299 indirect victims. 132. The Chamber recalls that preconditions to qualify as a i) victim of crimes against child soldiers, direct or indirect, is to establish on a balance of probabilities that a child under the age of 15 years was conscripted or enlisted into the UPC/FPLC or was used by the UPC/FPLC to
297 See Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 145. 298 See Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 125. 299 Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , para. 1199, disposition.
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participate actively in hostilities during the relevant time frame; and ii) victim of attacks, direct or indirect, is to establish on a balance of probabilities to have suffered as a result of any of the crimes committed during the attacks and for which Mr Ntaganda was found guilty. 133. The Chamber further recalls its use of presumptions of harm in the case of both victims of the crimes against child soldiers and victims of the attacks, as long as the applicant has demonstrated to be a direct or indirect victim of the crimes for which Mr Ntaganda was found guilty. For instances where presumptions of harm do not apply, the Chamber will scrutinise and establish the alleged harm in accordance with the criteria established above. In the case of indirect victims other than close family members, as stated above, the Chamber will assess whether they suffered personal harm as a result of the commission of the crimes committed against the direct victim. 134. As such, the Chamber concludes that as long as the victims demonstrate their status as direct and indirect victims and whether, on that basis, their harm is presumed, or it has been established in the manner detailed above, the causal link between the harm and the crimes of 300 which Mr Ntaganda was convicted is also established. c) Additional issues arising from the analysis of the Sample i. Deceased victims 135. In its submissions, the CLR2 informs that four victims in the Sample passed away, and 301 that no requests for a resumption of action were filed by their family members. The CLR2 submits that this fact should not preclude the Chamber from determining the eligibility of the concerned victims’ dossiers, and that if an eligible victim for reparations dies before receiving 302 reparations, the victim’s descendants or successors shall be equally entitled to them. Regarding the victims that passed away, the Defence submits that people willing to receive 303 reparations as indirect victims need to provide a proof of kinship. 136. The Chamber recalls that in the Reparations Order it established that in the event that a victim who was found eligible for reparations dies before receiving them, the victim’s 304 descendants or successors shall be equally entitled to them. The Chamber also clarified that
300 For a similar approach see , Lubanga Decision on Size of the Reparations Award, ICC-01/04-01/06-3379- Red-Corr-tENG , paras 186-189; Katanga Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-01/07-3728-tENG , paras 164-167. 301 CLR2 March 2023 Submissions , ICC-01/04-02/06-2836 , para. 17. 302 CLR2 March 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2836 , para. 18. 303 See, for instance, Annex A to the Defence May Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Conf-AnxA, p. 52. 304 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 40.
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indirect victims who suffered personal harm are entitled to reparations in their own right, 305 regardless of whether they are the rightful successors of the deceased victim. The Chamber 306 notes that these findings were not disturbed by the Appeals Judgment. 137. Having regard to the parties’ submissions, in order to expedite the process of potential resumption of actions that might be submitted in the future by family members of deceased beneficiaries, the Chamber considers it appropriate to set out a system whereby reparations may be passed down by deceased beneficiaries to relevant designated family members. 307 Consequently, and in accordance with the Court’s jurisprudence, the Chamber rules that the successor to reparations needs, to establish: (i) the beneficiary status of the deceased victim, i.e. establish his or her identity, status as direct or indirect victim, the harm suffered, and the causal link; (ii) the death of the victim beneficiary; (iii) his or her family relationship with the victim; and (iv) his or her appointment by family members granting him or her authority to act on behalf of the deceased victim. Once these conditions have been met, the successor becomes entitled to the reparations awarded to the deceased beneficiary. 138. The Chamber notes that for deceased victims in the Sample that the Chamber already 308 found eligible, the successors will need to prove only the remainder of the conditions as established above. 139. As to the evidence required to prove the elements above, the Chamber considers that the status as beneficiary of the deceased victim must be established in accordance with the 309 applicable evidentiary criteria. Conditions two to four must be proved through the use of official or non-official documents, including through or by the statements of two credible witnesses or by an official document signed and stamped by a chief of locality demonstrating the kinship with the deceased victim and the appointment by family members granting authority to the successor to act on behalf of the deceased victim.
305 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 40. 306 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 . 307 See, for instance, Trial Chamber II, The Prosecutor v. Germain Katanga , Decision on the Application for Resumption of Action brought by family members of deceased victim a/0195/08, 9 November 2021, ICC-01/04- 01/07-3891 ; Trial Chamber VIII, The Prosecutor v. Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi , Decision on the Request of the Legal Representative of Victims for Resumption of Action for Deceased Victims a/11180/21 and a/11182/21, 21 December 2021, ICC-01/12-01/15-437 . 308 See, for instance, applicants a/00820/13 and a/20125/14. 309 See sections III.A.2. and III.A.3. above.
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ii. IDIP victims 140. The Defence posits that, according to its own assessment of the 67 IDIP victims included in the Sample determined to be eligible by the TFV, 7 should be found eligible, 18 should be found not eligible, and 42 should be found not eligible unless additional relevant 310 information is submitted. The Defence submits that of the 67 IDIP priority victims in the sample, [REDACTED] had previously been assessed by the VPRS and determined to be not eligible, but the TFV nonetheless determined all of them to be eligible, limiting its assessment to whether the harm alleged results from a crime for which Mr Ntaganda has been convicted, 311 without more. In addition, the Defence takes issue once more with the fact that it has not received the information or documentation taken into account by the TFV when reaching the administrative decision on the 67 IDIP victims, indicating that it ‘remains in the dark’ as to TFV’s assessments. 312 The Defence also notes that if the TFV did obtain additional information from victims that was not shared with the Defence, then it amounts to an ‘ill-conceived procedure’. 313
141 In their submissions, the LRVs make reference to the methodology articulated by the 314 TFV to determine the eligibility of victims for the IDIP purposes, which was approved by the Chamber in May 2022, and in the CRL2’s view remains applicable following the Appeals 315 Judgment. The CLR2 further indicates that 45 of his clients who are victims included in the 316 IDIP received a positive determination on their eligibility by the TFV. 142. In light of the Appeals Judgment’s finding that the Chamber erred by not having set out 317 the most fundamental parameters of the future procedure for the eligibility assessment, the Chamber established above the parameters for future eligibility assessments. On this basis, the Chamber ruled on the 171 victims in the Sample, including the 67 IDIP victims. As indicated above, in ruling on the eligibility of these victims, the Chamber relied on the victims’ dossiers, the parties’ submissions on the sample, and any additional information they provided. The
310 Defence May 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Red , para. 3. 311 Defence May 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Red , para. 3. 312 Defence May 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Red , para. 26. 313 Defence May 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Red , para. 26. 314 CLR1 March 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2835 , para. 11; CLR2 March 2023 Submissions, ICC- 01/04-02/06-2836 , para. 28. 315 CLR2 March 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2836 , para. 28. 316 CLR2 March 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2836 , para. 18. 317 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 387.
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Chamber notes that, contrary to the Defence’s submission that it was ‘kept in the dark’, 318 the Defence had access to all the relevant information – with the necessary redactions in accordance with article 68(1) of the Statute. Finally, the Chamber underlines that this eligibility mechanism shall hereafter be applied to verify the eligibility of all potential beneficiaries. 143. In regard to the eligibility of the 67 IDIP victims, having carried out the relevant assessment, the Chamber reached the following conclusions: 59 victims have established their 319 eligibility, four victims have been found provisionally eligible, and four victims have not 320 established their eligibility. Consequently, the Chamber hereby rules that (i) the 59 victims that have established their eligibility are entitled to benefit from the reparations awarded in this case, to the extent that their harm has not been fully addressed in the context of the IDIP; (ii) similarly, the four victims found to be provisionally eligible would be entitled to benefit from the reparations awarded in this case, to the extent that their harm has not been fully addressed in the context of the IDIP, and for as long as the relevant missing information as detailed in Annex II is provided at the implementation stage; and (iii) the four victims that have not established their eligibility shall not be entitled to benefit from the reparations awarded in this case, and the reparations they received within the IDIP should be considered, for administrative and budgetary purposes, as having been received in the context of the assistance mandate of 321 the TFV. 5. Conclusions as to the Sample 144. The Chamber notes that of the assembled Sample of 171 victims’ dossiers, including 322 137 victims of the attacks and 34 child soldiers’ victims, it has undertaken an individual analysis of each dossier, on the basis of the criteria and methodology laid out above. As indicated, the analysis and detailed information that was extracted from the sample, is included in Annex II to this Addendum to the Reparations Order. The Chamber is satisfied that 132 of the 171 victims have established on a balance of probabilities their eligibility as victims – direct
318 Defence May 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2851-Red , para. 26. 319 Namely, a/01566/1, a/01635/13, a/30282/15, and a/30286/15. 320 Namely, a/00199/13, a/00212/13. a/00215/13, and a/01636/13. 321 Decision on the TFV’s initial draft implementation plan with focus on priority victims (‘Decision on the IDIP’), 23 July 2021, ICC-01/04-02/06-2696 , paras 25, 26; see also Appeals Chamber, Order setting a time limit for responses to the request for suspensive effect and invitation to the Trust Fund for Victims to submit observations on that request, 11 June 2021, ICC-01/04-02/06-2678 , para. 6; and Observations on the Defence Request for Suspensive Effect and Request under rule 103 of the Rules of Procedure and Evidence, ICC-01/04-02/06-2679 , 22 June 2021, para. 29. 322 See November 2022 Decision, ICC-01/04-02/06-2794 , para. 24; and January 2023 Decision, ICC-01/04-02/06- 2813 .
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or indirect – of the crimes for which Mr Ntaganda was convicted, and accordingly, are entitled to benefit from reparations in the present case. 145. The Chamber notes that the above total of 132 victims that have established their eligibility includes 10 victims deemed to be provisionally eligible pending the submission of a legible identification document, or the confirmation by the Registry of the relevant distance between the victims’ village and the place for which positive findings were made in the Conviction Judgment, as elaborated above. These victims will be entitled to benefit from reparations, for as long as the relevant missing information as detailed in Annex II is provided at the implementation stage. 146. The Chamber has found that 39 out of the 171 victims in the Sample have not established on a balance of probabilities their eligibility as direct or indirect victims of the crimes for which Mr Ntaganda was convicted and are therefore not entitled to benefit from reparations in the present case. 147. As to the 67 IDIP victims including in the Sample, included in the total referred to above, the Chamber found that 59 victims have established their eligibility, four victims have been found provisionally eligible, and four victims have not established their eligibility. 148. Regarding the victims that have not established their eligibility the Chamber reiterates, 323 as previously held in its October 2022 Decision, that they will have the opportunity to supplement their dossiers and clarify their accounts at the implementation stage.
B. Issues related to transgenerational harm
1 Previous findings and submissions a) Reparations Order, Appeals Judgement, and implementing orders 149. In the Reparations Order, the Chamber made findings as to transgenerational harm regarding the following topic: (i) within the principles applicable to reparations, as one of the various permutations and combinations of the different layers of harm that the victims may 324 have suffered. The Chamber provided a definition of tits understanding of this type of harm, based on the parties’ submissions, prior jurisprudence, the experts’ reports and other
323 October 2022 Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2786 , para. 10. 324 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 71.
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325 international jurisprudence. The Chamber also indicated that, for the purposes of reparations,
this type of harm shall be personally suffered by the victim and the causal nexus between the
326 harm and the crime for which the defendant was convicted needs to be established; and (ii)
as one of the types of harm suffered by the indirect victims of the crimes for which Mr Ntaganda
327 328 was convicted, specifically by the children of direct victims.
150 The Appeals Judgment found that the Chamber failed to provide sufficient reasoning
329 regarding both the concept and the evidentiary criteria to prove transgenerational harm.
Regarding the concept, the Appeals Judgment held that the Chamber did not refer to the
potential scientific uncertainties or the potential limitations of the concept and did not refer to
the relevant Defence’s submissions on the issue. 330 Addressing the Defence’s submissions, the
Appeals Judgment considered the reference to the Katanga case in the Reparations Order,
noting that, although the issue of transgenerational harm had been discussed, the requests for
331 reparations based on transgenerational harm in the Katanga case were ultimately rejected.
Regarding the two expert reports relied upon, the Appeals Judgment observed that the
Reparations Order did not assess their reliability, the underlying basis for the submissions of
the experts, nor the Defence’s arguments, and that the Chamber’s approach was insufficient
332 for several reasons.
151 On the evidentiary criteria, the Appeals Judgment found that the Chamber should have
provided further guidance, particularly regarding the caution the TFV would need to exercise
333 in assessing applications claiming reparations due to transgenerational harm. Stressing that
in awarding reparations the Chamber must remain within the confines of the conviction and
sentencing decisions, the Appeals Chamber noted that in the Sentencing Judgment the Chamber
325 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 73, indicating that ‘Transgenerational harm refers to a phenomenon, whereby social violence is passed on from ascendants to descendants with traumatic consequences for the latter. It is characterised by the existence of an intergenerational cycle of dysfunction that traumatised parents set in motion, handing-down trauma by acting as violent and neglectful caretakers deforming the psyche and impacting the next generation. Traumatised parents, who live in constant and unresolved fear, unconsciously adopt a frightening behaviour. This affects their children’s emotional behaviour, attachment, and well-being, increasing the risk that they will suffer post-traumatic stress disorders, mood disorders, and anxiety issues. It is argued that the noxious effects of trauma may be transmitted from one generation to the next, with a potential impact on the structure and mental health of families across generations, see also footnotes 188 to 193. 326 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 75. 327 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 182. 328 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 183(d)(vi). 329 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , paras 471-472. 330 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , paras 474-477. 331 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 478. 332 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , paras 485-492. 333 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 473, 479-481.
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did not consider the issue, stressing ‘the complex questions of causation involved in
determining this type of harm to a beyond reasonable doubt standard and the very general nature in which this type of harm has been referred to by the LRVs’.
334
Accordingly, the
Appeals Chamber held that it would have expected the Chamber to have fully considered the
335
issue at the reparations stage.
152 In light of the above, the Appeals Chamber reversed the Chamber’s findings as to
transgenerational harm and remanded the matter to the Chamber for it to assess and properly
reason it based on submissions sought from the parties and, for example, experts, and after
having assessed the credibility and reliability of the expert evidence on the record, and
336
addressed the issue of evidentiary guidance on this issue. In particular, the Appeals Chamber
deemed necessary for the Chamber to:
‘[…] consider the issue of scientific certainty as to the concept of transgenerational harm and whether it is appropriate to award reparations therefor at this Court and, if so, what the evidentiary requirements are for an applicant to establish that type of harm. Furthermore, if there is sufficient scientific certainty as to the concept of transgenerational harm, the Trial Chamber is directed to assess whether Mr Ntaganda is liable to repair such harm in the specific context of the crimes of which he has been convicted and taking into consideration the impact, if any, that the protracted armed conflict in the DRC may have as to the possibility of establishing that the trauma associated with transgenerational harm was caused by Mr Ntaganda. […] consider whether it needs to address such issues as: the matter of the basis for the concept of transgenerational harm; the evidence needed to establish it; what the evidentiary requirements are for an applicant to prove this type of harm; the need, if any, for a psychological examination of applicants and parents; the need, if any, to exercise caution in assessing applications based on transgenerational harm; whether Mr Ntaganda is liable to repair such harm in the specific context of the crimes of which he has been convicted and taking into consideration the impact, if any, that the protracted armed conflict in the DRC may have as to the possibility of establishing that the trauma associated with transgenerational harm was caused by 337 Mr Ntaganda.’
153 In the October 2022 Order, the Chamber directed the parties and participants, including
the VPRS and the TFV and, if available, the Appointed Experts, to provide further submissions
on: (i) the scientific basis for the concept of transgenerational harm; (ii) the evidence needed
to establish it; (iii) what the evidentiary requirements are for an applicant to prove this type of
harm; (iv) the need, if any, for a psychological examination of children and parents; (v) the
334 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , paras 482-283, referring to Sentencing Judgment, ICC-01/04- 02/06-2442 footnote 317. 335 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 484. 336 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , paras 493, 497. 337 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , paras 494-495.
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need, if any, to exercise caution in assessing applications based on transgenerational harm; and (vi) whether Mr Ntaganda is liable to repair such harm in the specific context of the crimes of which he has been convicted, taking into consideration the impact, if any, that the protracted armed conflict in the DRC may have on the assessment as to whether the trauma associated 338 with transgenerational harm was caused by Mr Ntaganda. 154. Following the October 2022 Order, the Registry informed via email that the Appointed Experts indicated that they were not in a position to provide further submissions and 339 information on issues related to transgenerational harm. b) LRVs submissions 155. In their submissions, the LRVs note that it does not fall within their mandate nor abilities – nor within those of any legal professional – to take a position as to which theory 340 better explains the phenomenon of transgenerational harm with most accuracy. Suffice to say, the LRVs argue, that the existence of transmission of trauma from trauma-exposed parents to their children, who were not exposed, is not disputed and scientific debates solely focus on the mechanisms of the phenomenon, i.e., on how the trauma is passed on from one generation 341 to the other, without questioning the fact that it is transmitted. In effect, both LRVs submit that clinicians, physicians, and specialists agree that heightened levels of distress and psychopathology are found in the children of victims of trauma, even when the children 342 themselves were not exposed to traumatic stress. This finding, the LRVs explain, led scientists to research the mechanisms on how trauma is transmitted, with the first school of thought relying on the social transmission theory, which focuses on the impact of upbringing, and the second school, which complements rather than contradicts the first, attributing the intergenerational transmission of trauma to the trauma-related neurobiological and 343 psychophysiological alterations that are passed from one generation to the next.
338 October 2022 Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2786 , para. 40. 339 Email from VPRS to the Chamber’s Legal Officer, 21 November 2022, at 12:38 hrs; and Email from VPRS to the Chamber’s Legal Officer, 7 February 2023, at 16:48 hrs. 340 CLR1 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2821 , paras 2, 20; CLR2 January 2023 Submissions, ICC- 01/04-02/06-2820 , para. 14. 341 CLR1 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2821 , paras 19-20. CLR2 January 2023 Submissions, ICC- 01/04-02/06-2820 , paras 13-14. 342 CLR1 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2821 , para. 17; CLR2 January 2023 Submissions, ICC- 01/04-02/06-2820 , para. 20. 343 CLR1 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2821 , para. 18; CLR2 January 2023 Submissions, ICC- 01/04-02/06-2820 , para. 12.
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156 Regarding the way to establish transgenerational harm in the Ntaganda case, the CLR1 argues that it should be presumed for the children and grandchildren of all direct victims of the case, regardless of their date of birth, and provided that they can establish that they are the child 344 of a direct victim. Recalling that presumptions can be resorted to when the circumstances are such that adducing evidence in a form other than by providing a coherent and credible narrative would prove nearly impossible, the CLR1 notes that the Reparations Order 345 established that certain harms can be presumed, a finding that was not disturbed on appeal. Accordingly, the CLR1 posits, there is no reason to depart from this approach when considering transgenerational harm, particularly taking into account the complex and multi-faceted nature 346 of this harm that makes recourse to presumptions even more justified. 157. The CLR2 notes that the criteria proposed in the Katanga case required that (i) the direct victim suffered psychological harm as a result of a crime committed by the convicted person; (ii) the child of the direct victim suffers psychological harm; and (iii) the child’s 347 psychological suffering arises out of the trauma suffered by the parents. The CLR2 posits 348 that these criteria are only partly apposite in the present case. Regarding the first criterion, in light of the presumptions of psychological harm included in the Reparations Order, which have not been overruled by the Appeals Chamber, virtually all victims of the attacks suffered 349 psychological harm and, therefore, this harm does not need to be proved further. Regarding the second and third criteria, the CLR2 submits that the most appropriate legal test regarding the transmission of transgenerational trauma should be ‘whether it is more likely than not that the direct victim passed his or her trauma to his or her child and/or this child’s future off-spring, on the balance of probabilities’. 350 In order to establish the likelihood of the transmission of trauma, the CLR2 submits, the main factors to consider are the nature, intensity, extent and duration of the direct victim’s psychological suffering. 351 The CLR2 submits that the evidence available on the record is sufficient for the Chamber to conclude that it is more likely than not
344 CLR1 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2821 , para. 21. 345 CLR1 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2821 , para. 22. 346 CLR1 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2821 , para. 24. 347 CLR2 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2820 , para. 16. 348 CLR2 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2820 , para. 17. 349 CLR2 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2820 , para. 17. 350 CLR2 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2820 , para. 18. 351 CLR2 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2820 , para. 18.
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that virtually all direct victims of the attacks passed their psychological trauma to their 352 children. 158. The LRVs further submit that all scholars, regardless of their field of expertise, have found that this phenomenon is likely to occur in contexts of extreme violence and massvictimisation, which is precisely the case in the present situation, noting that this has been acknowledged by other international tribunals confronted with situations of mass- 353 victimisation. In the present case, the LRVs argue, the case-record is replete with evidence demonstrating the mass-victimisation and extreme violent modus operandi used in the commission of the crimes and there is absolutely no evidence that intervention took place to alleviate the suffering of direct victims as they carried on with their life, increasing the risks 354 associated with intergenerational transmission of trauma. Accordingly, the LRVs submit that the Chamber should conclude, on the standard of balance of probabilities, that transgenerational harm is more likely than not to have been suffered by the children of direct 355 victims. 159. Further, the CLR1 argues that, due to the passage of time, the psychological evaluation 356 of the applicant or the direct victims would be wholly unnecessary. The CLR2 posits that the nature and intensity of the harm suffered by the child requires an evaluation of his or her personal circumstances, as opposed to a psychological evaluation, if only for the purposes of 357 determining the appropriate reparations. The CLR2 further reiterates his previous submissions that transgenerational harm can encompass not only psychological trauma but can also manifest itself in various other forms of harmful effects on the individual, family and 358 community levels. Consequently, the CLR2 submits that, for the purpose of the determination of the eligibility of an applicant alleging transgenerational harm, it will be incumbent on the TFV to first establish whether it is more likely than not that the direct victim passed the trauma to his or her child, based on objectively justifiable factors such as the nature, intensity, extent and duration of the direct victim’s psychological suffering; and, in the
352 CLR2 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2820 , para. 19. 353 CLR1 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2821 , para. 25; CLR2 January 2023 Submissions, ICC- 01/04-02/06-2820 , para. 20. 354 CLR1 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2821 , paras 26-30; CLR2 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2820 , paras 21-27. 355 CLR1 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2821 , para. 32; CLR2 January 2023 Submissions, ICC- 01/04-02/06-2820 , para. 27. 356 CLR1 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2821 , para. 31. 357 CLR2 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2820 , para. 28. 358 CLR2 January 2023 Submission, ICC-01/04-02/06-2820 , para. 29.
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affirmative, proceed with evaluating the applicant’s personal circumstances in order to
determine his or her contemporaneous needs at the time of receiving reparations, applying a
359 holistic approach. For the holistic evaluation, the CLR2 argues, the date of birth of the child
and the security situation in the area where the direct victim lived after the events would be of
360 relevance. The closer the date of the child’s birth to the crimes the higher the likelihood that
the parent’s trauma was transmitted to the child. 361
160 As to whether Mr Ntaganda can be held liable for transgenerational harm, the LRVs
submit that it is established, at the required standard, that Mr Ntaganda is the proximate cause
of the transgenerational harm suffered by the children of direct victims and that it is sufficient
362 to held him liable. Noting that the standard of causation determined in the Reparations Order
was not disturbed in appeals, the LRVs stress that, contrary to the Defence’s submissions, the
Court’s jurisprudence makes it clear that the standard of causation does not require that the act
363 be the sole cause of the harm. Further, the LRVs note that in evaluating whether a convicted
person can be deemed to be the proximate cause of a harm, a chamber must assess whether the
acts are ‘closely connected’ and ‘significant enough’ to have caused the harm. 364 On this last
point, the LRVs argue that this issue only arises in relation to children born after the resurgence
365 of the conflict in 2017. As to events that may have happened before the crimes, the CLR1
argues that the level of trauma experienced as a result of being forced to join the militia is
366 substantially higher that anything the victims may have suffered before. In addition, the
CLR1 argues that the facts that other incidents occurred subsequently to the crimes does not
necessarily break the chain of causation, provided in addition to the above that Mr Ntaganda
could have reasonably foreseen that his crime would cause harm to the direct victims and their
367 children. On this point, the LRVs argue that the Chamber should take into account that,
unlike Mr Katanga, who was convicted for a modest contribution (provision of weapons to the
359 CLR2 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2820 , para. 30. 360 CLR2 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2820 , para. 31. 361 CLR2 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2820 , para. 31. 362 CLR1 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2821 , para. 33; CLR2 January 2023 Submissions, ICC- 01/04-02/06-2820 , para. 33. 363 CLR1 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2821 , paras 34-36; CLR2 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2820 , para. 34-36. 364 CLR1 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2821 , paras 37-38; CLR2 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2820 , para. 37. 365 CLR1 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2821 , para. 42; CLR2 January 2023 Submissions, ICC- 01/04-02/06-2820 , para. 40. 366 CLR1 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2821 , para. 43. 367 CLR1 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2821 , para. 39.
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militia that attacked Bogoro) to the commission of a crime by a group of persons – which was the reason that prevented a finding that the standard of causation was satisfied –, Mr Ntaganda was convicted for his essential contribution to the common plan consisting of raising an army 368 of children and the destruction and disintegration of the Lendu community. 161. Regarding the appropriate type of reparations to address this harm and the need to exercise caution when evaluating the applications, the CLR1 reiterates her submission that this harm is most appropriately repaired by way of a collective reparation measure aimed at 369 ensuring access to education for the former child soldiers, their siblings, and their children. The CLR2 posits that victims who suffered transgenerational harm should be provided with collective reparations with individualised components, like any other victims in the case, as 370 transgenerational harm is not limited to psychological harm only. Further, the CLR1 adds that reparations could serve as a form of symbolic recognition by the Court that these children are also victims of Mr Ntaganda and constitutes a way to acknowledge the moral harm suffered 371 by direct victims. Lastly, the CLR1 submits that direct victims tend to indicate that, 20 years after the commission of the crimes, alleviating the harm they suffered has become nearly 372 impossible. However, most of them consider that the most appropriate form of reparations for their suffering would be to ensure that their children will never suffer from a similar life experience and that they can study, as they are terrified that their children may be abducted or 373 otherwise incited to join militias. Regarding the lack of applications alleging this type of harm, the LRVs note that the reparations model set in the Reparations Order is not application based, and applications were not collected in order to avoid raising the victims’ expectations, 374 in consistency with the do no harm principle. The CLR1 nevertheless notes that contacts with her clients reveal that their children do suffer the consequences of the crimes suffered by 375 their parents, as ample demonstrated by the evidence in the case.
368 CLR1 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2821 , paras 40-41; CLR2 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2820 , paras 38-39. 369 CLR1 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2821 , para. 44. 370 CLR2 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2820 , para. 41. 371 CLR1 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2821 , para. 44. 372 CLR1 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2821 , para. 45. 373 CLR1 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2821 , para. 45. 374 CLR1 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2821 , para. 46; CLR2 January 2023 Submissions, ICC- 01/04-02/06-2820 , paras 42-43. 375 CLR1 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2821 , para. 46.
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c) Defence submissions 162. The Defence argues that the concept of transgenerational harm is unsettled from a scientific and medical perspective, with scepticism and uncertainty about its scope, existence, 376 and transmission, even among experts in the field. Importantly, the Defence underlines, there is no prior practice of reliance on transgenerational harm as a basis for reparations at the 377 Court. The Defence further argues that the Appeals Judgment mandatorily directed the Chamber to ‘solicit and consider additional expert submissions’, arguing that none of the Appointed Experts have expertise in the area and their opinion is only based on academic 378 literature. The Chamber’s failure to seek additional expert evidence, the Defence submits, risks undermining any subsequent reparations award to the extent that it seeks to address 379 alleged transgenerational harm in the case. In the argument of the Defence, with no expert evidence and no new material in the case record, the parties and participants will simply reiterate or reframe their previous submissions, the Chamber will remain without a sufficiently reliable basis to make findings on the issue, and the order will again be exposed to criticism, 380 and potential revision. 163. The Defence further refers to the definition advanced in the Katanga case, and the fact that the Chamber in that case noted the uncertainties regarding how the harm is transmitted, describing the explanations advanced in the scientific debate by the epigenetic transmission 381 and the social transmission theories. In the argument of the Defence, none of the parties or participants have indicated which theory should be adopted, nor do they have expertise to do 382 so. However, the Defence submits that the Appeals Chamber directed the Chamber to consider the issue of the scientific certainty as to the concept and whether it is appropriate to 383 award reparations for transgenerational harm at the Court. Referring to the argument of the CLR1 that the two competing theories do not make the concept uncertain but reinforces it and provides explanations for two distinct ways trauma is transmitted, the Defence argues that the Appeals Chamber’s question is not directed to the likelihood of otherwise generational
376 Defence January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2823-Red , para. 7. 377 Defence January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2823-Red , para. 7. 378 Defence January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2823-Red , paras 7-9. 379 Defence January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2823-Red , para. 10. 380 Defence January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2823-Red , paras 11-13. 381 Defence January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2823-Red , paras 15-18. 382 Defence January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2823-Red , para. 19. 383 Defence January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2823-Red , para. 20.
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transmission but ‘rather it is asking about “scientific certainty” about how trauma is allegedly transmitted’. 384
164 As to the type of evidence and requirements needed to establish this harm, the Defence argues that the lack of certain scientific basis gives rise to further problems, noting that an epigenetic approach will require to establish the physical transmission of PTSD stemming from 385 epigenetic modifications. What is clear, the Defence submits, is that the Chamber’s approach was flawed and the Appeals Chamber’s criticisms cannot be circumvented by arguments based in that reparations are collective and thus the Chamber was not required to adopt a specific 386 criteria for evidentiary purposes. Whether reparations are collective or individual, the Defence submits, any potential award based on transgenerational harm requires sufficient proof of the causal nexus between the harm of the applicant and the harm for which the defendant 387 was convicted. Based on requirements referred to in the Katanga case and by one of the Appointed Experts, the Defence submits that the just and fair limits on the consequences of the crimes that can be attributed to the convicted person requires that at least basic facts must be obtained – namely, the date of birth of the child and other potentially traumatic events that have affected both the direct victim and the applicant – and the causal nexus must be 388 demonstrated. The above would, in the argument of the Defence, preclude the reliance on the presumption of transgenerational harm for family members, noting that the Appeals 389 Chamber clearly anticipated a process of individual assessment of applications. 165. As to the need for psychological evaluation of the children and parents, the Defence reiterates its prior submissions that, in order for transgenerational harm to be established, there must first be a diagnosis of psychological harm for the parents, which must be reassessed on a 390 rolling basis as diagnosis fluctuates and evolves over time. Based on the submissions of experts in the Lubanga and the Bemba cases and the evidence provided in the Katanga case, the Defence reiterates that consistent prior practice of the Court requires medical diagnosis and 391 reiterates its position on the inapplicability of presumptions for transgenerational harm.
384 Defence January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2823-Red , para. 21. 385 Defence January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2823-Red , paras 22-23. 386 Defence January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2823-Red , paras 24-25. 387 Defence January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2823-Red , para. 26. 388 Defence January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2823-Red , paras 26-31. 389 Defence January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2823-Red , para. 29. 390 Defence January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2823-Red , para. 33. 391 Defence January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2823-Red , paras 33-35.
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166 As to whether Mr Ntaganda can be held liable to repair such harm, the Defence submits that the applicant is required to establish a causal nexus between the alleged transgenerational 392 harm, and the crimes for which Mr Ntaganda was convicted. The Defence submits that it is not the case that simply because the applicant is a family member of a direct victim Mr Ntaganda would be automatically liable for any and all psychological or other harm exhibited 393 by the applicant. Noting the recurrent violent conflict that has taken place in Ituri for over 20 years as from 1999 onwards, as detailed in the case record, and the fact that Mr Ntaganda was convicted for crimes that occurred between approximately 6 August 2002 and 31 December 2003, the Defence argues that the causal link is all but impossible to establish, as 394 the facts and context preclude a credible assessment of transgenerational harm in the case. Considering that the eligibility assessment would be conducted ‘without the assistance of professional or experts qualified to assess claims of transgenerational harm’, the Defence submits that Mr Ntaganda should not be liable to pay reparations for such harm and, should 395 applications be assessed on that basis, caution must be exercised in scrutinising them. d) TFV observations 167. As to the scientific basis for the concept of transgenerational harm, the TFV recalls the Chamber’s findings in the Reparations Order, the academic and scientific literature revealing the two leading schools of thought regarding the transmission of the transgenerational trauma – the epigenetic and the social theories – and the findings made in the 396 Katanga case. 168. As to the assessment of transgenerational harm, the TFV first (i) recalls the standard of proof for reparations – balance of probabilities –; (ii) notes the standard of causation – the ‘but-for’ test combined with the requirement of the ‘proximate cause’ –; and (iii) recalls that in the Katanga case the Court deemed appropriate to rely on presumptions when it is difficult for 397 the children to gather evidence to establish the causal nexus. In light of the above, the TFV supports the LRVs’ views that the causal nexus between transgenerational harm suffered by a child and the crimes for which Mr Ntaganda was convicted should be presumed when it has been demonstrated that the harm suffered by one of the child’s parents is linked to the crimes
392 Defence January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2823-Red , para. 36. 393 Defence January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2823-Red , para. 36. 394 Defence January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2823-Red , paras 37-41. 395 Defence January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2823-Red , paras 42-43. 396 TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , paras 26-30. 397 TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , paras 31-32.
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398 included in the conviction. Arguing that in the Katanga case the Appeals Chamber did not close the door for Chambers to rely on presumptions for transgenerational harm, the TFV 399 observes that the Chamber could adopt them in the present case. This, the TFV adds, particularly when the direct victims have received no appropriate psychological support to mitigate the negative effects on the next generation, aggravated by the lack of infrastructure 400 for psychological support services in the ongoing conflict situation in the Eastern DRC. 169. In that case, the TFV observes, the applicant would have to demonstrate: (i) personal psychological suffering; (ii) psychological harm of his/her parent(s); (iii) the causal nexus between the harm of the applicant’s parent(s) and the crimes for which Mr Ntaganda was 401 convicted; and (iv) their parent-child relationship. When successfully done, the TFV suggests, that the applicant’s transgenerational harm could be presumed by the Chamber on the 402 basis of this parent-child relationship. The TFV further argues that in the Katanga case the Chamber relied on medical certificates and an expert report because those were the supporting 403 documents submitted to it. Further, the TFV notes that the Katanga case is very different than the present one when it comes to the number of victims, and that it would be highly costly and time intensive in a case of this magnitude to collect medical certificates and/or 404 psychological expertise for each potential applicant. Rather, the TFV suggests that psychological support can be provided to the direct victims, through group or family therapy, as first essential step to mitigating transgenerational harm, allowing the implementing partner(s)’s psychologists to assess whether descendants require psychological treatment and 405 provide it, if the scope of the programme (availability of funds) so allows. 170. If a determination of eligibility of the descendants was considered necessary, the TFV adds, it could proceed to a legal assessment on the basis of the information provided by the implementing partner’s psychologist(s); however, the TFV reiterates that it strongly favours a presumption of transgenerational harm in this case and a practical approach to their eligibility
398 TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , para. 33. 399 TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , paras 34-35. 400 TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , para. 35. 401 TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , para. 36. 402 TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , para. 36. 403 TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , para. 37. 404 TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , para. 38. 405 TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , para. 39.
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and to how best address the psychological harm suffered by the descendants of the direct 406 victims. 171. As to Mr Ntaganda’s liability, the TFV argues that it is reasonable to consider that Mr Ntaganda could have reasonably foreseen the impact of the crimes he committed on the direct victims’ descendants. 407 Similarly, the TFV is of the view that it is not unreasonable to assume that the closer the child’s birth date to the date of the crimes the more likely it is that it had an impact on the applicant; however, an expert psychologist on transgenerational harm may be 408 best suited to advise on the matter. In addition, the TFV argues that the fact that over time the population in Ituri has gone through several cycles of violence cannot be used to justify that is not just and fair to consider that the crimes committed by the convicted person are the proximate cause of even a part of the transgenerational harm suffered by the victims of several waves of crimes; otherwise, no one could be held responsible for transgenerational harm in the 409 DRC. e) Registry observations 172. On the issue of the evidentiary requirements to prove transgenerational harm, the Registry recalls its observations regarding the non-availability of documentary evidence, as provided in the context of its preliminary mapping, and the difficulties – in terms of cost and 410 time – that would represent for victims to obtain them. The Chamber notes that, as part of the Preliminary Mapping exercise, the Registry reported in 2020 that almost no contemporaneous supporting documentation survived from the 2002-2003 conflict in Ituri and that the obtention of any form of documentation is likely to be costly for victims and time 411 consuming for the registration process. 2. Chamber determination 412 173. In light of the issues on remand, the Chamber details below its reasoning regarding both the concept and the evidentiary criteria to prove transgenerational harm.
406 TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , paras 40-41. 407 TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , para. 42. 408 TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , para. 42. 409 TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , para. 43. 410 Registry January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2822 , para. 15, referring to Annex I to Registry’s Observations on Reparations (‘Annex I – Registry February 2020 Observations’), ICC-01/04-02/06-2475-AnxI , paras 23-24, 43-45; and Annex II - Registry February 2020 Observations, ICC-01/04-02/06-2475-AnxII-Red3 . 411 Annex I - Registry February 2020 Observations, ICC-01/04-02/06-2475-AnxI , paras 23-24. 412 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , paras 471-472, 493, 494-495, 497.
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a) Concept of transgenerational harm
174 Regarding scientific certainty as to the concept of transgenerational harm, the Chamber
413 414
is satisfied that, as argued by the LRVs and the TFV, within the current stage of advance
in the academic and scientific research, experts from different disciplines agree on the existence of ‘a phenomenon, whereby social violence is passed on from ascendants to descendants with
traumatic consequences for the latter’.
415
The Chamber’s assessment of the
416
175 Katanga Reparations Order, the Katanga 2018
417 418
Decision on Transgenerational Harm, the Reparations Order, the scientific and academic
413 CLR1 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2821 , para. 17; CLR2 January 2023 Submissions, ICC- 01/04-02/06-2820 , para. 20. 414 TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , paras 26-30. 415 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 73, referring to Trial Chamber II, The Prosecutor v. Germain Katanga , Decision on the Matter of the Transgenerational Harm Alleged by Some Applicants for Reparations Remanded by the Appeals Chamber in its Judgment of 8 March 2018 (‘ Katanga Decision on Transgenerational Harm’), 19 July 2018, ICC-01/04-01/07-3804-Red-tENG , para. 10; Katanga Reparations Order, ICC-01/04- 01/07-3728-tENG , para. 132; First Experts Report, ICC-01/04-02/06-2623-Anx1-Red4 , para. 111; Second Expert Report, ICC-01/04-02/06-2623-Anx2-Red4 , para. 53. 416 Katanga Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-01/07-3728-tENG , para. 132, referring to an expert report submitted in that case by the legal representative of victims on the evaluation of the mental health of child victims, resulting from the work carried out by the neuropsychiatrist Espérnce Kashala Abotes, see Trial Chamber II, The Prosecutor v. Germain Katanga , Transmission du « Rapport d’expertise sur l’évaluation de l’état psychique des enfants victimes de l’attaque de Bogoro du 24 février 2003 » (‘ Katanga Transmission of Expert Report’), 31 May 2016, ICC-01/04-01/07-3692-Red2 . 417 Katanga Decision on Transgenerational Harm, ICC-01/04-01/07-3804-Red-tENG , paras 10-14, referring to submissions from the legal representative of victims and annex therein with a list of academic and scientific articles referring to the phenomenon of transgenerational trauma, see Trial Chamber II, The Prosecutor v. Germain Katanga , Observations du Représentant légal déposées conformément à l’Ordonnance enjoignant au Représentant légal des victimes et à l'équipe de la défense de Germain Katanga de déposer des observations suite à l’arrêt de la Chambre d'appel sur les reparation, 13 April 2018, ICC-01/04-01/07-3788-Red , and Annex, ICC- 01/04-01/07-3788-Anx ; further submissions form the legal representative of victims referring to an expert testimony provided by Dr Daryn Reicherter, in the case of The Prosecutor v. Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo , whose analysis and conclusions were rooted in the same methodology as the neuropsychiatrist that produced the report in the Katanga case, arguing that expert witnesses in the Bemba case ‘showed that there is an intergenerational handing down of harm suffered’, see Addendum to the document entitled “Transmission du ‘Rapport d’expertise sur l’évaluation de l’état psychique des enfants victimes de l’attaque de Bogoro du 24 février 2003’” (ICC-01/04- 01/07-3692-Conf-Red), 10 June 2016, ICC-01/04-01/07-3698-Conf-tENG, para. 9, and public annexes accompanying the transcripts of the testimony of Dr Daryn Reicherter in the Bemba case between 16 and 17 May 2016, ICC-01/04-01/07-3698-Anx1 and ICC-01/04-01/07-3698-Anx2 . 418 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 73.
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419 420 421
literature referred to by the Defence, by the LRVs, and by the TFV; of the different
422
experts who have submitted reports or provided testimony before this Court, and decisions
419 As for the literature cited in Defence January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2823-Red , footnote 11, see S.G. Matthews and D.I.W. Phillips, ‘Minireview: Transgenerational Inheritance of the Stress Response: A New Frontier in Stress Research’ in Endocrinology (2010), 151(1): 7–13, available online , which is a study on the impact of prenatal environment on the stress axis function throughout life, noting that ‘there is an emerging consensus that maternal stress is linked with a range of […] perturbations in the offspring and associated adverse developmental outcomes’, p. 8, although stressing that ‘[t]here is still very limited evidence for transgenerational inheritance in humans beyond the first generation’, p. 9; C.S.M. Cowan et al, ‘The lasting impact of early-life adversity on individuals and their descendants: potential mechanisms and hope for intervention’ in Genes, Brain and Behavior (2016) 15: 155–168, available online , noting that ‘[i]t is widely recognised that early experiences often have a profound impact on individuals’ functioning across their life span’, p. 155, that ‘it is clear that earlylife stress alters the neuroendocrine system in children’, p. 156, further ‘[t]he intergenerational transmission of the effects of stress is also evident when trauma exposure occurs outside gestation […]. Adult children of Holocaust survivors born after the war, or after their parents had escaped to safety, exhibit higher lifetime prevalence rates of depression, PTSD and other anxiety disorders compared with Jewish individuals who did not have a parent who was a Holocaust survivor […]. Together, these studies highlight the inflated risk of psychiatric disorders in offspring of parents exposed to trauma. Further, they provide evidence for intergenerational transmission of stress in humans , such that individuals can acquire biological and behavioral phenotypes that match their parent’s risky environment’, p. 158; S. Alhassen et al, ‘Intergenerational trauma transmission is associated with brain metabotranscriptome remodeling and mitochondrial dysfunction’ in Communications Biology (2021) 4:783 1-15, available online , noting that ‘[i]ntergenerational trauma increases lifetime susceptibility to depression and is a major risk factor for developing multiple neuropsychiatric disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and schizophrenia1[…]. Human natural experiments provide evidence for the devastating health consequences in offspring as a result of exposure during pregnancy to existential and acute trauma such as war and natural disasters. Whether intergenerational trauma transmission and its negative outcomes are a consequence of in utero foetal neurodevelopment disruptions or from poor maternal care by traumatized mothers is still largely ambiguous’, p. 2; J. Švorcová, ‘Transgenerational Epigenetic Inheritance of Traumatic Experience in Mammals’ in Genes (2023), 14, 120:1-20, available online , noting that studies shows, for instance ‘that the offspring of Holocaust survivors have a higher prevalence of PTSD and other psychiatric diagnoses than the controls do, although these descendants did not experience traumatic events themselves. Another study showed a similar effect for grandchildren of Holocaust survivors […]. In the case of Holocaust, the effects can be just as easily explained by behavioural transmission, which can likewise leave an epigenetic mark. It is highly likely that, in natural systems, the processes of social transmission and epigenetic modifications mutually reinforce and feed into each other. In humans, it is extremely difficult to exclude explanation by social transmission.’, p. 10; B. Horsthemke, ‘A critical view on transgenerational epigenetic inheritance in humans’ in Nature Communications (2018) 9:2973 1-4, available online , study that does not focus on the intergenerational transmission of trauma but on the transmission of epigenetic information across generations in general, arguing that cultural inheritance cannot be excluded, p. 3; M. Fargas-Malet and K. Dillienburger, ‘Intergenerational transmission of conflict-related trauma in Northern Ireland: A behaviour analytic approach’ in Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma (2016) 1-26, available online , noting that ‘[i]ntergenerational transmission of trauma has become a key term to describe the impact that traumatic events personally experienced by one generation can have for the subsequent generation’, the study focuses on the process of transmission of trauma and the role of parent-child communication about traumatic events; U. Iyengar et al, ‘Unresolved trauma in mothers: intergenerational effects and the role of reorganization’ in Frontiers in Psychology (2014) 5:966 1-9, available online , detailing the results of an empirical research on how a mother’s unresolved trauma interfere with her ability to sensitively respond to her infant, thus affecting the development of attachment in her own child, and contributing to the intergenerational transmission of trauma and insecure attachment, p. 5; P. Fossion et al, ‘Transgenerational transmission of trauma in families of Holocaust survivors: The consequences of extreme family functioning on resilience, Sense of Coherence, anxiety and depression’ in Journal of Affective Disorders (2015) 171:48-53, available for purchase online , detailing the results of an empirical research investigating the possible transmission of the effects of an earlier major trauma from one generation to the next, identifying the possible mechanisms explaining the transmission of trauma in families of former hidden Jewish children who spent WWII in various hideaway shelters accord Nazi-occupied Europe. The study, inter alia , concludes that Holocaust survivor families present a higher percentage of the ‘extreme’ type
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than in the general population, characterised as being more pathological and with a higher percentage of first generation major trauma, becoming more problematic over time, with children having grown in these damaged family types presenting, as adults, higher levels of depressive and anxiety disorders and less abilities to cope with adversity; and S.A. Ridhuan et al, ‘Advocating for a Collaborative Research Approach on Transgenerational Transmission of Trauma’ in Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma (2021) 14:527–531, available online , indicating that the psychological and physical result of distressing experiences is known to affect more than just the primary experiencers of such trauma and can span over several generations, indicating that the different mechanisms by which trauma is transmitted between generations spans biological, psychological, and sociological factors, and its study requires elements from each of these fields in order to facilitate a holistic understanding, advocating for an interdisciplinary model. 420 As for the literature cited in CLR1 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2821 , footnote 18 and CLR2 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2820 , footnote 19, see Y. Danieli et al, ‘Multigenerational Legacies of Trauma: Modeling the What and How of Transmission’ in American Journal of Orthopsychiatry (2016) 86:6 639-651, available online , detailing the findings of an empirical research through a multidimensional integrative model that demonstrate that survivors’ experiences during and life circumstances after the Holocaust do indeed affect their children and do so primarily through parents’ post-trauma adaptational styles; R. Yehuda et al, ‘Relationship of parental trauma exposure and PTSD to PTSD, depressive and anxiety disorders in offspring’ in Journal of Psychiatric Research (2001) 35:5 261-270, available for purchase online , detailing the findings of an empirical research in the adult offspring of Holocaust survivors that demonstrate a specific association between parental PTSD and the occurrence of PTSD in offspring and that parental trauma (Holocaust) exposure, more than parental PTSD, was found to be significantly associated with lifetime depressive disorder. Further, the total number of lifetime psychiatric disorders was found to be substantially higher in offspring of Holocaust survivors that in comparison subjects, with depressive disorders reported with greatest frequency (at pp. 266-267); R. Yehuda et al, ‘Holocaust exposure induced intergenerational effects on FKBP5 methylation’ in Biological Psychiatry (2016) 80:5 372-380, available online , detailing the findings of a larger sample of Holocaust survivors, offspring, and comparison subjects which supports an intergenerational epigenetic priming of the physiological response to stress in offspring of highly traumatized individuals. 421 As for the literature cited in TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , footnote 16, see E. Dozio et al, ‘The Transgenerational Transmission of Trauma: The Effects of Maternal PTSD in Mother-Infant Interactions’ in Frontiers in Psychiatry (2020) 11:480690 1-12, available online , which, while noting that trauma exposure is extremely common in countries affected by conflict or natural disasters and that several studies have pointed to intergenerational trauma transmission in countries affected by massive traumatic events, focused in the Central African Republic in order to identify the direct specific processes of mother-to-infant trauma transmission. 422 See views of experts presented in the Lubanga case, Ms Elisabeth Schauer, a clinical psychologist PhD, who testified in that case on 7 April 2009, and who (i) defined a traumatic event as ‘an experience where the person has either self-experienced or witnessed or was confronted with an event that involved actual or threatened death, serious injury, or threat to the physical integrity of yourself or others’ ( T-166-ENG p. 18, ls 15-18); (ii) described as a recent finding the determination that ‘traumatic events alters the epigenetic development meaning that, if you are traumatised you might give the impact of this traumatisation not just to your children but to your children’s children’ ( see T-166-ENG p. 30, ls 14-21), and (iii) noted how traumatised mothers treat their children differently ( see T-166-ENG p. 75, l. 22 to p. 76 l. 16). Furthermore, in the Bemba case, Dr Daryn Scott Reicherter, a clinical psychiatrist who testified in that case on 16 May 2016 on the mental outcomes of rape, mass rape and other forms of sexual violence, explained that his affirmation – namely: ‘[t]hese assaults […] resulted in appalling damage to the populace’s mental and physical health. The science also predicts that this damage will be long-term and intergenerational, harming impacted communities well beyond the individual victim’ – is backed by dozens of references and ‘decades of deep scientific data that predicts this exact same thing’ ( see T-368 p. 81, l. 23 to p. 83, l. 15) He also referred to the impact of trauma in children, indicating that ‘[i]n populations that are studied well where the parental generation was the survivor of traumatic experience, their offspring, not necessarily the survivors of traumatic experience, went on to have greatly exaggerated rates of mental health disorders.’ ( see T- 368 p. 98, ls 7-16). Dr Scott further described his professional experience with the issue of intergenerational transmission of trauma in different contexts and detailed the science behind what he calls ‘pretty clear, second generation of traumatised people, second generation of people with trauma related mental health disorders tend to also have a higher rate of developing mental health disorders […] the thing that’s most clear is that that’s a fact […] there is a number of different ideas that, you know, have a very different profound base in the science as to why that might be, but I think the fact of the matter is that it is a -- it is true.’ ( see T-368 p. 99, l. 11 to p. 100, l. 13). He noted that a person who is raped has lasting and potential permanent changes in their brain and will ‘almost
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423
issued by other international jurisdictions, leads it to conclude that experts from different
disciplines agree on the existence of the phenomenon of transgenerational harm in which ‘traumatised parents set in motion [an intergenerational cycle of disfunction], handing-down
trauma’.
424
176 Without prejudice to the clear existence of the phenomenon, the Chamber notes that
science has advanced different explanations as to the way transgenerational harm is transmitted
certainly affect the way that they parent children, that can affect another generation and even, you know a generation to come after that.’ ( see T-368 p. 102, ls 8-22), reiterating that PTSD ‘is but one mental health outcome that’s possible after a traumatic experience’ ( see T-368 p. 103, ls 21-22), and explaining the phenomenon of epigenetics ( see T-368 p. 109, l. 24 to p. 111, l. 7). Moreover, in the Katanga case, Dr Abotnes, PhD, a certified physician and neuropsychiatrist, indicated that ‘[i]l est probable que le traumatisme subi par les parents d’enfants nés après l’attaque ait eu des implications sur la période anté, péri et postnatale de ces enfants, affectant non seulement leur développement psychomoteur et comportemental, mais aussi l’aspect affectif, la relation mèreenfant (père-enfant) et la dynamique familiale. En effet, plusieurs études suggèrent une relation entre le traumatisme subi des parents et le comportement des enfants n’ayant pas directement vécu l’attaque’, referring, for instance, to H. Main et al., Attachment in the Preschool Years: Theory, Research, and Intervention. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1990: pp. 161-182 ( see Expert Report on the Evaluation of the Mental Health of Child Victims of the Attack on Bogoro of 24 February 2003, ICC-01/04-01/07-3692-Conf-Anx1-Red, p. 21) (the Chamber notes that, while this report is still confidential, no information requiring confidential treatment is disclosed by referring to the experts’ findings above). Furthermore, in the present case, the Appointed Experts Dr Karine Bonneau, qualified lawyer MA and PhD, Mr Eric Mongo Malolo, agricultural engineer, and Dr Norbert Wühler, qualified lawyer and PhD, who in their report relying on the scientific writings of Y. Danieli, stressed that, as a general principle, victims may suffer multiple types of harm which can affect succeeding generations, noting that international crimes are likely to result in psychological harm where the victims develop serious mental health problems that influence parenting and affect children’s psychological development and adaptation, thereby becoming intergenerational ( see First Experts Report, ICC-01/04-02/06-2623-Anx1-Red4 , paras 16, 33, 36). Similarly, in the report submitted by Dr Sunneva Gilmore, medical doctor in obstetrics and gynaecology, relying on the scientific writings, inter alia , detailing results of studies conducted with survivors of the Holodomor Genocide in Ukraine, the Khmer Rouge Regime in Cambodia, the Holocaust, and the Troubles in Northern Ireland, she noted the increasing research indicating the intergenerational harms of gross violations and conflict on victims, noting that the noxious effects of trauma and conflict can be transmitted from one generation to the next, noting in particular the strong prevalence of this trauma for all children of victims of sexual violence ( see Second Expert Report, ICC-01/04-02/06-2623-Anx2-Red4 , paras 53-57). 423 See, inter alia, expert opinion presented before the IACtHR in the case Rochac Hernández et al. v. El Salvador , where the expert Martha de la Concepción Cabrera Cruz referred to the ‘principle of systematic and transgenerational psychological trauma- whereby a mother who has suffered trauma and has not healed inevitably transmits that experience to her son or daughter in one way or another. Therefore, a traumatic experience continues to have effects on the next generations.’ IACtHR, Case of Rochac Hernández et al. v. El Salvador , Judgment (Merits, Reparations and Costs), 14 October 2014, Series C No 285 , para. 114, referring to the expert opinion “Secuelas transgeneracionales de las desapariciones forzadas” (‘Transgenerational after-effects of forced disappearances’) rendered by Martha de la Concepción Cabrera Cruz, in March 2014 (merits file, volume I, folio 747-748); before the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, civil party applications based on transgenerational harm have been considered admissible, without prejudice of further determinations on causality, ECCC, Office of Co-Investigating Judges, Case File No: 003/07-09-2009-ECCC-OCIJ Prosecutor v. MEAS Muth , Order on Admissibility of Civil Party Applications, 28 November 2018, D269 , para. 32 and footnote 47 and ECCC, Office of Co-Investigating Judges, Case File No: 004/07-09-2009-ECCC-OCIJ, Order of Civil Party Applications, 28 June 2019, D384 , para. 33 and footnote 49; in the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, transgenerational harm was recognised as a type of harm that entitles victims to receive reparations, KSC, Trial Panel I, The Specialist Prosecutor v. Salih Mustafa , Corrected version of Public redacted version of Reparation Order against Salih Mustafa, 6 April 2023, KSC-BC-2020-05/F00517/RED/COR , paras 92, 187. 424 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 73.
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from traumatised parents to their children, who were not directly exposed to the parents’ 425 traumatic experience. As detailed in the Katanga 2018 Decision on Transgenerational Harm, the two leading schools of thought that explain how exposure to trauma is transmitted from parent to child are the epigenetic and the social transmission theories. The former focuses on the ‘parent-to-child transmission of epigenetic marks that retain a memory of traumatic events experienced by the parents’. The latter focuses on ‘the impact of upbringing and emotional learning on the child’s emotional development.’ 426 The Chamber further notes that most recent studies suggest that the process of social transmission and epigenetic modifications mutually reinforce and feed into each other and that a holistic understanding of the intergenerational 427 mechanisms and effects of trauma requires an interdisciplinary biopsychosocial approach. The Chamber has considered the above theories and the current state of the scientific debate as to the way transgenerational harm is transmitted. 177. On this basis, the Chamber rejects the Defence submissions that the concept of transgenerational harm is ‘unsettled from a scientifical and medical perspective’ and that there 428 is ‘scepticism and uncertainty about its scope, [and] existence’. To the contrary, as noted 429 above, the concept of transgenerational harm, as defined in the Reparations Order, is rooted in the common understanding of the notion and scope of the phenomenon by the scientific and academic community. In the Chamber’s view, the ongoing scientific debate on the mechanisms of transmission simply reinforces the very existence of the phenomenon. The Chamber further notes that the Defence misinterprets the Appeals Judgment when submitting that it requires the Chamber’s assessment of the ‘“scientific certainty” about how trauma is allegedly ’. 430 transmitted In the Chamber’s understanding, the Appeals Judgment was clear that the Chamber should ‘consider the issue of scientific certainty as to the concept of transgenerational harm’, 431 not about its transmission.
425 Katanga Decision on Transgenerational Harm, ICC-01/04-01/07-3804-Red-tENG , paras 11-14. 426 Katanga Decision on Transgenerational Harm, ICC-01/04-01/07-3804-Red-tENG , para. 11. 427 See, inter alia, J. Švorcová, ‘Transgenerational Epigenetic Inheritance of Traumatic Experience in Mammals’ in Genes (2023), 14, 120:1-20, available online , p. 10; and S.A. Ridhuan et al, ‘Advocating for a Collaborative Research Approach on Transgenerational Transmission of Trauma’ in Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma (2021) 14:527–531, available online , p. 529. 428 Defence January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2823-Conf, para. 7. 429 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 73. 430 Defence January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2823-Conf, para. 21 [emphasis added]. 431 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 494 [emphasis added].
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178 As to the Appeals Judgment’s criticism of the reference to the Katanga case when 432 defining intergenerational harm, the Chamber considers that the concept itself, as advanced in the Katanga case, was not undermined by the rejection of applications based on transgenerational harm. In effect, the conceptual understanding of a phenomenon is not negated when the assessment of the facts in a case lead to the conclusion that the requirements of a notion, as legally defined, are not satisfied. In the Katanga case, the Chamber rejected the requests for reparations based on transgenerational harm not due to any uncertainties in its concept or in the way it is transmitted, but because the causal nexus between the psychological harm suffered by the applicants and the crimes for which Mr Katanga was convicted was not 433 established. The Chamber even acknowledged that ‘[a]pplicants are, in all likelihood , 434 suffering from transgenerational psychological harm’. The Chamber further notes, as 435 recalled by the LRVs, that the finding above in the Katanga case was made in light of the applicable standard of causation (but-for relationship between the harm and the crime), the proximate cause standard, the possible breaks in the chain of causation, and the type of 436 contribution for which Mr Katanga was convicted. 179. Lastly, as to the Appeals Judgment conclusions that the Chamber relied upon the two reports of the Appointed Experts without assessing their reliability, the underlying basis for their submissions, and the Defence’s arguments, 437 the Chamber, following previous practice 438 at the reparation stage of the proceedings, did not consider it necessary to make explicit its determinations within this context. 180. In determining that the Appointed Experts’ reports were credible and their evidence reliable, the Chamber followed its consistent approach to expert’s evidence in the case. The reports were assessed against and relied upon depending on ‘factors such as the established competence of the particular witness in his or her field of expertise, the methodologies used, the extent to which the expert’s findings were consistent with other evidence on the trial record,
432 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 478. 433 Katanga Decision on Transgenerational Harm, ICC-01/04-01/07-3804-Red-tENG , para. 141. 434 Katanga Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-01/07-3728-tENG, para. 134 [emphasis added]. 435 CLR1 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2821 , paras 36-40; CLR2 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2820 , paras 36-38. 436 Katanga Decision on Transgenerational Harm, ICC-01/04-01/07-3804-Red-tENG , paras 15-18. 437 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , paras 485-492. 438 The Chamber notes that, in the Al Mahdi case, Trial Chamber VIII relied on and/or discussed the evidence and methodology used by appointed experts, but without making a general finding on the reliability of the experts or their reports. See Al Mahdi Reparations Order, ICC-01/12-01/15-236, paras 6, 53-55, 76, 80-81, 119, 121-126.
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439
and the general reliability of the expert’s evidence’. In effect, in light of their expertise, the
details provided about their sources and methodology, and considering that in their reports the
experts clearly indicated their reliance on the academic and scientific opinions of other experts
440
on the issue as the source for their submissions, the Chamber, within its discretion, was
satisfied that they were sufficiently substantiated and adequate, taken together with the
jurisprudence of other international jurisdictions, to support the definition provided for in the
441
Katanga case. However, as with any other evidence in the case, the Chamber proceeded with caution, relying on the reports to the extent that they were consistent with the Chamber’s
holistic assessment of the evidence and information regarding transgenerational harm.
b) Evidentiary criteria to prove transgenerational harm
181 Regarding the Appeals Judgment holding that reparations must remain within the
confines of the conviction and sentence and noting that in the Sentencing Judgment the
442
Chamber declined to pronounce itself on the issue of transgenerational harm, the Chamber
notes the different standard of proof applicable to reparations, on the one hand, and to trial
proceedings, on the other. For the purposes of sentencing, the Chamber indeed declined to rule
on the issue in light of the ‘complex questions of causation involved in determining […] [inter- ’.
443
or transgenerational harm] to a beyond reasonable doubt standard However, for the
444
purposes of reparations, the ‘balance of probabilities’ standard of proof applies, the ‘but/for’
standard of causation, and the requirement that the crimes for which the person was convicted
439 Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , para. 54. See also, Decision on Defence preliminary challenges to Prosecution's expert witnesses, 9 February 2016, ICC-01/04-02/06-1159 , para. 9. 440 See report submitted by Dr Karine Bonneau, qualified lawyer MA and PhD, Mr Eric Mongo Malolo, agricultural engineer, and Dr Norbert Wühler, qualified lawyer and PhD, who clearly indicate to be relying on the scientific writings of Y. Danieli, the report of Dr Gilmore, and the report submitted by Ms Elisabeth Schauer in the Lubanga case, when making their submissions on intergenerational harm ( see First Experts Report, ICC- 01/04-02/06-2623-Anx1-Red4 , paras 16, 33, 36, 111 and footnotes 9, 44, 52, 146-149); similarly, in the report submitted by Dr Sunneva Gilmore, medical doctor in obstetrics and gynaecology, she relies on the scientific writings of several individuals detailing results of their studies in different contexts, including B. Bezo, S. Maggi, N. Field, S. Muong, V. Sochanvimean, P. Fossion, C. Leys, C. Vandeleur, C. Kempenaers, S. Braun, P. Verbanck, P. Linkowski, H. Wiseman, and J. Barber, noting the increasing research indicating the intergenerational harms of gross violations and conflict on victims ( see Second Experts Report, ICC-01/04-02/06-2623-Anx2-Red4 , paras 53-57). 441 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , footnotes 189-193. 442 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , paras 482-283, referring to Sentencing Judgment, ICC-01/04- 02/06-2442 , footnote 317. 443 Sentencing Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2442 , footnote 317 [emphasis added]. The Chamber also notes that the Sentencing Judgment declined to address the issue of transgenerational harm given ‘the very general nature in which this type of harm has been referred to by the LRVs’. The Chamber is of the view that, contrary to the sentencing stage in the Katanga case, by the time the Reparations Order and the present Addendum are issued, this type of harm has sufficiently been discussed in reparations proceedings before the Court. 444 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 136.
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had to be the ‘proximate cause’ of the harm for which reparations are sought. 445 The Chamber
clearly indicated that transgenerational harm had to be personally suffered by the victim and
446 that the causal nexus between the harm and the crime needs to be established. This can only
be understood as requiring to establish the harm at the appropriate standard of proof and
causation for the purposes of reparations. The Chamber considers therefore that the Reparations
Order remains within the confines of the judgment and sentence.
182 As to the evidentiary requirements to establish transgenerational harm, the Chamber
firstly notes that the only matter related to presumptions that has been affected by the Appeals
447 Judgment is the presumption of physical harm for the victims of the attacks, while all other
448 findings of presumptions in the Reparations Order are final. Accordingly, the Chamber will
449 450 not entertain the submissions of the CLR1 and the TFV regarding the need to adopt an
additional presumption of transgenerational harm.
183 The Chamber observes that, when defining the types of harm suffered by the victims,
451 it considered all relevant information before it and concluded that the children of direct
452 victims suffered transgenerational harm. Accordingly, contrary to the submissions of CLR1
and the TFV, the Chamber underlines that no other family members are entitled to reparations
453 in this case based on transgenerational harm.
454 184. In addition, as pointed out by the CLR2, the Chamber notes that the Reparations
Order did not restrict transgenerational harm to psychological harm only. Accordingly, children
of direct victims who can demonstrate to have suffered transgenerational harm should be
445 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 132. 446 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 75. 447 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , paras 701-705. 448 See Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , paras 144-147. 449 CLR1 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2821 , paras 21-24. 450 TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , paras 32-36. 451 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 148. 452 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 183(d)(vi) [emphasis added]. 453 This determination is relevant in the assessment of the CLR1 submission that siblings of former child soldiers would be entitled to education as a reparation for this type of harm (CLR1 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04- 02/06-2821 , para. 44) and for the calculations of the approximate number of victims made by the TFV regarding the number of indirect victims that would qualify for reparations has having suffered transgenerational harm, which seems to include other family members as its counted in addition to the number of close family member of direct victims, Corrigendum of Public redacted version of the Annex 1 to the Trust Fund for Victims’ second submission of Draft Implementation Plan ('Updated DIP’), 14 April 2022, ICC-01/04-02/06-2750-Anx1-Red- Corr , paras 94, 109-110. 454 CLR2 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2820 , para. 41.
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provided with collective reparations with individualised components, to the extent of the individual harm suffered as a result of the crimes for which Mr Ntaganda was convicted. 185. In concrete terms, a child of a direct victim claiming to have suffered transgenerational harm, would generally need to prove (i) that a direct victim suffered harm as a result of a crime for which Mr Ntaganda was convicted; (ii) that the child of the direct victim suffered harm; (iii) that the child’s harm arises out of the harm suffered by the direct victim, i.e., the causallink; and (iv) a parent-child relationship. As to the evidence required to prove the elements above, the Chamber considers that the same evidentiary criteria applicable in order to prove identity, the harm suffered, and the causal link between the crime and the harm, as for any other 455 victims in the case, applies to victims claiming transgenerational harm. 186. Regarding the first two requirements, i.e., harm of the direct victim and harm of the direct victim’s child, the Chamber considers that, although no presumption of transgenerational harm applies, the general factual presumptions established in the Reparations Order to the extent that are not affected by the Appeals Judgment still apply, meaning that, once direct victim status has been proven, (i) children of former child soldiers and of victims of rape and sexual slavery benefit from the presumption of material, physical, and psychological harm in 456 relation to them (as close family members) and in relation to their parents (as direct victims); (ii) children of direct victims of attempted murder and of direct victims of crimes committed during the attacks who personally experienced the attacks, benefit from the presumption of 457 psychological harm in relation to their parents (as direct victims); and (iii) children of direct victims who lost their home or material assets with a significant effect on their daily life, benefit 458 from the presumption of psychological harm in relation to their parents (as direct victims). 187. Regarding the issue as to whether a psychological examination of the children and the 459 460 parents is required, the Chamber notes that, as recalled by the TFV, in the Katanga case the Chamber relied on medical certificates and in an expert report not because they are the generally required documents to prove this type of harm, but because those were the supporting documents submitted thereto. In effect, it was the legal representative of victims in that case
455 See Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , paras 137-147. 456 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 145. 457 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 146. 458 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 147. 459 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 495. 460 TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , para. 37.
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who considered it necessary to be provided with the assistance of an expert and, it was at his
request that an expert was appointed by the Registry pursuant to Regulation 83(3) of the
461
Regulations. Accordingly, the Defence’s submission that ‘consistent prior practice of the Court’ requires medical diagnosis,
462
is dismissed.
463
188 Further, as noted above and recalled by the CLR2, most direct victims who are
former child soldiers, victims of rape and sexual slavery, victims of attempted murder, victims
who personally experienced the attacks, or victims who lost their homes or material assets with
a significant effect on their daily life, may be entitled to benefit from the presumption of
psychological harm established in the Reparations Order. Accordingly, for most parents no
psychological examination is required. Regarding the Defence’s submission that a diagnosis of
psychological harm for the parents should always exist and be reassessed, relying on the
464 465
testimony of Dr Reicherter in the Bemba case and of Dr Schauer in the Lubanga case,
having reassessed both testimonies, the Chamber dismisses the arguments as selective and
461 Katanga Transmission of Expert Report, ICC-01/04-01/07-3692-Red2 , paras 5-7. See also Decision on the request of the common legal representative of victims for assistance from the Victims and Witnesses Unit, 9 October 2015, ICC-01/04-01/07-3608-tENG, para. 10 . 462 Defence January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2823-Conf, para. 34. 463 CLR2 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2820 , para. 17. 464 As to the testimony of Dr Reicherter in the Bemba case, the Defence selects a section of his testimony provided during cross-examination by the Defence in that case, when the expert was prompted by counsel to indicate that he had worked with information obtained 10 years before and that, indeed, psychiatric diagnosis evolve over time and would have to be reconsidered, even when ‘we’re pretty sure that it has a chronic and longitudinal outcome, we’d still want to reassess that diagnosis’ ( see T-369 p. 6, ls 10-13). However, the Chamber notes that Dr Reicherter only gave a professional answer indicating that, logically, a diagnosis may evolve over time and even if it is chronic and the prediction is that it will last – as it has been the case with the patients he cares for – a professional would want to reassess, as with any medical diagnosis ( see T-369 p. 7 ls 9-19). The Chamber also notes that this part of the testimony should be assessed within the context of the entirety of testimony, noting, for example, sections where he explained trends in scientific evidence in relation to mental health trauma in cases of rape and mass rape, indicating that ‘[f]rom the time psychiatry has been considered a science it’s quite clear that extensive trauma tends to cause bad mental health outcomes […] science has evolved in that we’ve become better at identifying it, creating good statistics around it, but the theory has not evolved much. It’s pretty straightforward, we’re aware that very traumatic experiences cause bad mental health outcomes’ ( see T-368 p. 86, l. 14 to p. 87, l. 5); of similar relevance are sections of his testimony where he noted that surveys about PTSD symptoms can be limiting and miss something else that is present as ‘somebody who walks away from a severe crime like rape and somehow does not develop the disorder that we call PTSD, it is not the case that that person is therefore well […]. Being gang raped almost always cause some very bad psychological outcome. Whether it’s something that we can diagnose or not is a different question.’ ( see T-368 p. 88, l. 9 to p. 89, l. 9); or where he noted the limitations of psychiatric interviews and the need to conduct more comprehensive mental health assessments ( see T-368 p. 90, l. 11 to p. 91, l. 6). 465 As to the testimony of Dr Schauer, the defence selects a section of her testimony where she specifically referred to PTSD and indicated that indeed, a medical evaluation is required to have a diagnosis, but fails to refer to the rest of her testimony, where she clearly indicated that PTSD, which has certain specific symptoms, was only one of the possible mental outcomes of a traumatic experience ( see T-166-ENG p. 19, l. 2 to p. 21, l. 17; p. 22, l. 2 to p. 26, l. 7); or where Dr Schauer explained how traumatic experiences do not only impact the mental health of victims but it may equally affect the neuronal, endocrine, and immune system, causing also physical diseases ( see T-166-ENG p. 26, l. 8 to p. 30, l. 12).
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466 taken out of context. . In addition, as noted above, the Chamber considers that transgenerational harm may not only be psychological and should, therefore, be holistically assessed and addressed, depending on the victims’ harm, through the different rehabilitation measures to be included within the individualised components of the collective reparations granted in this case. 189. The need for a psychological assessment of the direct victim (parent) and/or the indirect victim (child) claiming transgenerational harm shall be determined on a case-by-case basis, depending on whether any of the general presumptions of harm apply for the child and/or the parent(s) and the type of harm claimed. The Chamber notes that no victim included in the sample claimed to have suffered transgenerational harm. Accordingly, the decision as to whether any examination will be required as part of the further victims’ eligibility assessment of victims, shall be taken on a case-by-case basis. Nevertheless, taking into account the 467 submissions from the Registry and the TFV, the Chamber underlines that victims should not be required to obtain psychological expertise in order to prove the harm and, in the event that a psychological evaluation may be required, access to it should be provided to the victims by the authority responsible for conducting the eligibility assessments. 190. Regarding the third requirement that the child’s harm arises out of the harm suffered by the direct victim, i.e., the causal link between the crime and the harm, this should be determined at the time of the eligibility assessment by the authority responsible for conducting the assessment. It will need to be established whether it is more likely than not that the direct victim passed the trauma to his or her child, based on objectively justifiable criteria such as the nature, 468 intensity, extent and duration of the suffering of both, the direct and the indirect victim. This 469 evaluation should be made considering the evidence as a whole, and, as suggested by the CLR2 and the TFV, the date of birth of the child and the security situation in the area where 470 the direct victim lived after the events, would be key elements to consider. Consistent with the approach taken in the Katanga case, the closer the date of the child’s birth to the crimes for which Mr Ntaganda was convicted, the higher the likelihood that the parent’s trauma was
466 See two previous footnotes. 467 Registry January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2822 , para. 15; TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC- 01/04-02/06-2819 , para. 38. 468 For a similar suggestion, see CLR2 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2820 , para. 30. 469 Katanga Decision on Transgenerational Harm, ICC-01/04-01/07-3804-Red-tENG , para. 28. 470 CLR2 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2820 , para. 31; TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC- 01/04-02/06-2819 , para. 42.
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471 transmitted to the child. As suggested by the CLR2, the Chamber also considers relevant to
take into account whether, after having suffered the crimes, the direct victim(s) lived and had
a child in a relatively safe area or not, in order to account for the possible breaks in the chain
472 of causation. In effect, the authority making the assessment would need to determine on a
case-by-case basis whether the crimes suffered by the parent(s) – and for which Mr Ntaganda
was indeed convicted – are the proximate cause of a harm suffered by the child, assessing
whether the crime is ‘closely connected’ and ‘significant enough’ to have caused the harm. 473
191 Regarding the fourth requirement, the parent-child relationship, the same evidentiary
criteria to prove identity applies. Accordingly, the kinship can be demonstrated through official
474 or unofficial documents and, alternatively, through the signed statement of two individuals.
192 As to the question whether it is appropriate to award reparations for transgenerational
475 harm in this case, the Chamber reiterates that, when identifying and defining the types of
harm suffered by the victims in this case, it took into account all relevant information at its
476 disposal and concluded that, indeed, it was more likely than not that the children of direct
victims of the crimes for which Mr Ntaganda was convicted suffered from transgenerational
477 478 479 harm. In effect, as noted by the LRVs, and partly by the TFV, the record of the case is
abundant in evidence demonstrating (i) the mass victimisation and extreme violence suffered
by the victims of the crimes included in the conviction; and (ii) that the victims received no
support or treatment alleviating their suffering as they carried on with their lives. Accordingly,
the Chamber concluded that it was more likely than not that the children of direct victims would
be suffering from transgenerational harm. Victims claiming to have suffered from
transgenerational harm shall be assessed on a case-by-case basis by the authority in charge of
conducting the eligibility assessment.
471 Katanga Decision on Transgenerational Harm, ICC-01/04-01/07-3804-Red-tENG , para. 29. See also CLR2 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2820 , para. 31. 472 CLR2 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2820 , para. 31. 473 CLR1 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2821 , paras 37-38; CLR2 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2820 , para. 37. 474 See section III.A.4.b)(i). 475 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 494. 476 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 148. 477 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 183(d)(vi). 478 CLR1 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2821 , paras 26-30; CLR2 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2820 , paras 21-27. 479 TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , para. 35.
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193 Regarding the issue of whether Mr Ntaganda should be liable to repair transgenerational harm in the specific context of the crimes for which he was convicted and taking into account 480 the impact of the protracted armed conflict in the DRC, the Chamber notes that sufficient safeguards to the rights of the convicted person are included in the Reparations Order. As detailed above, no factual presumption for transgenerational harm has been recognised and as 481 claimed by the Defence. The Chamber underlined that any potential award based on transgenerational harm required sufficient proof of the causal nexus between the child’s harm and the harm caused to the parent(s) for which Mr Ntaganda was convicted. As noted above, the standard of causation recognised in this case is the ‘but/for’ standard and it is further required that the crimes for which the person was convicted had to be the ‘proximate cause’ of 482 the harm for which reparations are sought. Nevertheless, the Chamber underlines that, as 483 484 noted by the expert from the Bemba case and recalled by the Defence, the harm caused by a traumatic experience makes a person far more vulnerable to suffering from any subsequent trauma, and the outcomes for the person would be worse because of the previous trauma. Accordingly, the issue of the impact of the protracted armed conflict in the DRC is a matter of evidence that has to be decided on a case-by-case basis as part of the eligibility assessments. Caution should certainly be exercised when assessing whether victims who claim transgenerational harm are eligible to benefit from reparations. 194. As to the Defence’s submission that the Appeals Judgment mandatorily directed the 485 Chamber to solicit and consider additional expert evidence, the Chamber notes that the Defence seems to have misapprehended the Appeals Judgment findings. In the view of the Chamber, the use of the wording ‘e.g.,’ (for example) when referring to experts on this 486 matter, makes it clear that the Appeals Chamber presented the Chamber with an option to be resorted upon at the Chamber’s discretion.
195 Lastly, the Chamber underlines that, in most cases, children of direct victims may qualify as indirect victims of the crimes without the need to claim that they suffered from transgenerational harm. In effect, as is the practice in other cases before the Court at the
480 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , paras 494-495. 481 Defence January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2823-Conf, para. 26. 482 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 132. 483 See testimony of Dr Reicherter in the Bemba case, T-369 p. 19 ls 2-8 and p. 31 ls 3-16. 484 See, inter alia, Defence January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2823-Conf, paras 33-34. 485 Defence January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2823-Conf, paras 7-9. 486 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 497.
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487 488 reparation stage of the proceedings, they will either benefit from a presumption or be able to demonstrate that they have suffered personal harm as a result of the crimes committed 489 against their parent(s). Nevertheless, the Chamber finds it essential to acknowledge the existence of the phenomenon of transgenerational harm and the personal suffering that children of victims of unimaginable atrocities may also experience. In the view of the Chamber, this approach is further justified in light of the fundamental principle of the ‘best interests of the child’, which should guide reparations decisions concerning children. 490 A sensitive approach to the rights of children that – while ensuring that the rights of the convicted person are fully respected – also carefully promotes the protection of children and recognises the distinct personal harm that they may have suffered, in itself, may already constitute a measure of 491 satisfaction. 3. Conclusion on transgenerational harm 196. In light of the above, the Chamber reiterates its previous findings in the Reparations Order as to (i) the various permutations of harm; (ii) the concept of transgenerational harm; (iii) the fact that transgenerational harm should be personally suffered by the victim and the causal nexus needs to be established; and (iv) the fact that Mr Ntaganda should be held liable to repair such harm, as one of the types of harm suffered by the children of direct victims of 492 the crimes for which he was convicted. 197. A child of a direct victim claiming to have suffered transgenerational harm, will generally need to prove (i) that a direct victim suffered harm as a result of a crime for which Mr Ntaganda was convicted; (ii) that the child of the direct victim suffered harm; (iii) that the child’s harm arises out of the harm suffered by the direct victim; and (iv) the parent-child relationship. These requirements are without prejudice to the application of the general presumptions as determined in the Reparations Order and subject to the same evidentiary
487 See , for example, in the Lubanga case where material, physical, and psychological harm was presumed in relation to all indirect victims ‘owing to their close personal relationship with the direct victim’, Lubanga Decision on the Size of Reparations Award, ICC-01/04-01/06-3379-Red-Corr-tENG , paras 180-185. 488 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , paras 489 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , paras 35-38. 490 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 54. See also ECOSOC Resolution 2005/20 of 22 July 2005, Guidelines on Justice Matters involving Child Victims and Witnesses of Crime (the ‘Guidelines on Child Victims and Witnesses’), p. 6, para. 9(c): ‘“[j]ustice process” encompasses […] post-trial procedures, regardless of whether the case is handled in a national international or regional criminal justice system’. 491 For a similar approach, see CLR1 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2821 , para. 44. See also Guidelines on Child Victims and Witnesses , p. 5, para. 8 (c): ‘[w]hile the rights of accused and convicted offenders should be safeguarded, every child has the right to have his or her best interests given primary consideration’. 492 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , paras 71, 73, 75, 182, and 183(d)(vi).
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criteria and standard of causation applicable to all victims. Victims claiming to have suffered from transgenerational harm shall be assessed on a case-by-case basis by the authority in charge of conducting eligibility assessments at the implementation stage.
C. Issues related to the health centre in Sayo
1 Previous findings and submissions a) Judgment, Sentence, Reparations Order, Appeals Judgement, and implementing orders 198. In the Conviction Judgment, the Chamber found Mr Ntaganda responsible, inter alia , for intentionally directing attacks against protected objects as a war crime pursuant to article 8(2)(e)(iv) of the Statute, specifically in relation to the health centre in Sayo, in the context of 493 the First Operation. When detailing the applicable law to the war crime of attacking protected objects, the Chamber clearly indicated that the crime ‘only requires the perpetrator to have launched an attack against a protected object and it need not be established that the attack 494 caused any damage or destruction to the object in question.’ As such, the Chamber recalled its factual findings beyond reasonable doubt that ‘during the UPC/FPLC advance into Sayo, UPC/FPLC soldiers fired projectiles at the health centre’. 495 The Chamber also determined that the Sayo health centre was in use at the time of the attack as a medical facility, as persons 496 seeking medical treatment were there. Further, the Chamber found that the UPC/FPLC were aware of the status of the building and yet made it the object of an attack, as soldiers who used heavy weapons in Sayo referred to the centre as a ‘dispensary’, thus being aware that it served 497 a medical purpose. Based on his conduct and actions prior, during and after the commission 498 of the crimes, the Chamber also concluded beyond reasonable doubt that Mr Ntaganda meant for the UPC/FPLC soldiers to indiscriminately attack, among other structures, a protected 499 object in Sayo, knowing that medical facilities are protected against attack under IHL.
493 Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , page 538 (disposition), para. 1199 (p. 529). 494 Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , para. 1136 and footnote 3148, referring to Trial Chamber VIII, The Prosecutor v. Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi , Judgment and Sentence (‘ Al Mahdi Judgment and Sentence’), 27 September 2016, ICC-01/12-01/15-171 , footnote 29. 495 Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , para. 1138 and footnote 3151, referring to para. 506 and recalling para. 526 and footnote 1563, where the Chamber indicated that it was unable to establish [beyond reasonable doubt] that the UPC/FPLC looted the health centre in Sayo. 496 Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , para. 1147 and footnote 3159, referring to para. 228. 497 Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , para. 1147 and footnote 3160, referring to footnote 1474. 498 Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , paras 1177-1187. 499 Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , para. 1188.
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199 The Chamber further notes that, in its factual findings in the Conviction Judgment it
was found proven that, prior to the attack on or about 24 November 2002, the health centre in
500 Sayo received injured people who had been wounded in Mongbwalu. Having considered the
Defence’s challenges and submissions, 501 the Chamber also found beyond reasonable doubt
that two persons present at the health centre when it was attacked by UPC/FPLC soldiers fled
because of the danger, three seriously injured men and a Lendu woman with her child were left
502 behind, and the woman was killed during the assault.
200 In the Sentencing Judgment, the Chamber recalled that injured persons were present in
503 the health centre at the time it was attacked. In addition, the Chamber found that by launching
an attack against the health centre, a facility that cares for patients, the perpetrators accepted
the consequential severe impact on the welfare and/or lives of any patients present at the centre
504 and disrupted the medical care for persons in need. In the Sentencing Judgment, the Chamber
also found that, while more than one projectile was fired at the health centre and the centre was
intentionally made the object of the attack, it was not clear on the basis of the evidence whether
505 the weapon used destroyed the health centre in full or merely damaged it. Lastly, the
Chamber found that the people left behind at the centre were particularly defenceless, as they
506 were unable to leave by themselves and were left without medical care.
201 In the Reparations Order, the Chamber identified among the direct victims eligible for
reparations, natural and legal persons that could demonstrate, at the relevant standard of proof,
that they suffered harm as a result of, among other crimes, the attack against the health centre
507 in Sayo. When defining the types of harm suffered by the victims, after having considered
508 all the information before it, the Chamber recalled that injured persons were present in the
health centre at the time of the attack and that the attack had a severe impact on the welfare and
500 Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , para. 476, referring to individuals wounded during the failed assault on Mongbwalu on or about 9 November 2002, and para. 495, referring to people wounded during the assault on Mongbwalu on or about 20 November 2002. 501 Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , para. 506 and footnotes 1474, 1478, 1482-1484. 502 Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , para. 506. 503 Sentencing Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2442 , para. 144, referring to Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06- 2359 , para. 506. 504 Sentencing Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2442 , para. 144, referring to the finding that three seriously injured med and a woman and her child were left behind at the centre, Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , para. 506. 505 Sentencing Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2442 , para. 153, referring to Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06- 2359 , para. 506. 506 Sentencing Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2442 , para. 154. 507 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , paras 108, 116. 508 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 148.
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509 lives of the patients. Referring to the Second Expert Report, the Chamber noted that (i) the
attack not only damaged its physical structures, but also caused harm to its service provision
510 and exacerbated the vulnerability and suffering of the civilian population; (ii) after the attack
511 the services ceased, regaining functionality soon after but at a reduced capacity; and (iii) to
date, the number of beds is still reduced, there is a lack of skilled personnel, and simply
providing material assets or repairing structures would not reinstate their prior level of
512 healthcare available. Accordingly, the Chamber concluded that harm to direct victims
included damage to the health centre in Sayo and loss of adequate healthcare provision to the
513 community that benefitted from it.
202 When identifying the most appropriate modalities of reparations, based on the specific
circumstances of the case, the Chamber directed the TFV to consult with the victims as to
whether, as a symbolic measure, a sign could be installed on the health centre in Sayo,
514 indicating that the building enjoys special protection under international humanitarian law.
Lastly, when considering the costs of repairing the harms caused to the victims of this attack,
relying on the report from one of the Appointed Experts, Dr Gilmore, the Chamber noted that,
at the time of the Reparations Order the centre was operational, as repairs were made through
515 an NGO in 2005 with money raised locally. The Chamber further recalled the views of the
Appointed Expert that focusing only on rebuilding the infrastructure would not address the
516 harm caused or the level of service provision available. Lastly, the Chamber noted that the
Appointed Expert had quantified the appropriate total cost for repairing the harm caused by the
517 attack on the Sayo health centre at a total sum of USD 130,000.
509 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 158, referring to Sentencing Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06- 2442 , paras 144, 154 and Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , para. 506. 510 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 158, referring to Second Experts Report, ICC-01/04-02/06- 2623-Anx2-Red4 , paras 160-161, 168. 511 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 158, referring to Second Experts Report, ICC-01/04-02/06- 2623-Anx2-Red4 , para. 169. 512 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 158, referring to Second Experts Report, ICC-01/04-02/06- 2623-Anx2-Red4 , para. 169 513 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 183(a)(x). 514 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 208, referring to Second Experts Report, ICC-01/04-02/06- 2623-Anx2-Red4 , para. 174 and CLR2 December 2020 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2633-Red , paras 72, 75. 515 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 242, referring to Second Experts Report, ICC-01/04-02/06- 2623-Anx2-Red4 , para. 168 and footnote 663. 516 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 242, referring to Second Expert Report, ICC-01/04-02/06- 2623-Anx2-Red4 , paras 168-169. 517 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 242, referring to Second Expert Report, ICC-01/04-02/06- 2623-Anx2-Red4 , paras 169, 172-173, footnotes 669, 686.
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203 The Appeals Judgment reversed the findings in the Reparations Order in relation to the health centre in Sayo and remanded it for the Chamber to address it anew, considering that the 518 Chamber failed to meet the requirement to provide a reasoned opinion on the matter. The Appeals Chamber held that neither the Conviction Judgment nor the Sentencing Judgment found that, as a result of that crime, damage was caused to the health centre or loss of adequate 519 healthcare provision was caused to the community. Accordingly, the Appeals Judgment concluded that the Chamber should have first considered whether, and on what basis, the cost to repair the damage to the centre could be included within the order for reparations and should 520 have given the parties an opportunity to make submissions on this issue. In the Appeals Chamber’s view, the Chamber simply adopted the conclusion of the Appointed Expert, but erred in failing to properly assess her credibility, the reliability of her report, and the basis for her findings, and erred in failing to explain how it reached its findings as to causation and harm 521 to the centre. 204. Therefore, in the view of the Appeals Chamber, to make such findings evidence would need to have been presented, establishing to the appropriate standard of proof, that the damage exists, that there is a causal nexus between that damage and Mr Ntaganda’s crimes and that, as a result, Mr Ntaganda’s liability to pay for repair to this centre has been established. 522 The Appeals Judgment also indicated that the Chamber should address the issue of disclosure to the 523 Defence of relevant information, and assess the Defence’s submissions as to the chain of causation establishing that Mr Ntaganda is responsible for the harm caused to the health centre 524 in Sayo. Lastly, Judge Ibáñez Carranza observed that, if no individual applications for reparations have been submitted, the Chamber should consider repairing the harm suffered by 525 the community as a collective victim. 205. In the October 2022 Order, the Chamber instructed all parties and participants, including the OTP, the DRC and, if available, the Appointed Experts, to provide further submissions and possible evidence, on issues relevant to the assessment of the actual damage
518 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 549. 519 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , paras 539-540, 548. 520 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 541. 521 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , paras 544-545, 548. 522 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , paras 548-549. 523 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 549. 524 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 581. 525 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 550, referring to her separate opinion in the Lubanga case, Separate Opinion of Judge Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza (‘ Lubanga Separate Opinion Judge Ibáñez’), 16 September 2019, ICC-01/04-01/06-3466-AnxII , paras 138, 140.
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and harm caused to the health centre in Sayo. In particular, the Chamber instructed them to
refer specifically to the issue of the actual damage and any harm caused to the health centre in
Sayo, the individual victims, and the community as a whole for loss of adequate healthcare
526 provision, and the causal nexus between any harm and the crime. The Chamber further
instructed the Appointed Experts to review the redactions to their Reports and additional
527 information.
206 Following this, lesser redacted versions of the Second Expert Report were submitted in
528 consultation with the Appointed Experts, while the Registry informed that the Appointed
Experts had indicated not to be in a position to provide further submissions and information on
529 issues related to the health centre in Sayo. Similarly, in its submissions, the DRC stated that
530 [REDACTED]. The Chamber considers below the submissions presented by the parties, the
Prosecutor, the TFV and the Registry, and provides its reasoned findings on this issue.
b) CLR2 submissions
207 In his submissions, the CLR2 argues that available evidence on the case record and
recently collected demonstrates that the attack on the Sayo health centre resulted in a disruption
of which the centre and the community has never recovered, with the provision of medical
531 services never returning to its pre-attack levels. In the CLR2’s argument, the disruption
unfolded in three phases: (i) full interruption of the medical services for a period of about six
months; (ii) extremely limited resumption of activities until 2005; and (iii) broadening – yet at
532 reduced capacity – in the delivery of medical services from 2005 until today.
208 As to the evidence available in the record, the CLR2 notes that, based on the testimony
of witnesses, the Chamber established beyond reasonable doubt that a woman was killed during
533 the attack and patients, who were particularly defenceless, were left without medical care.
Although the Chamber could not establish that the centre was looted or physically damaged as
526 October 2022 Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2786 , para. 42. 527 October 2022 Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2786 , para. 43. 528 On 21 December 2022, a confidential lesser redacted version of the Second Expert Report was filed together with the public lesser redacted version thereof (ICC-01/04-02/06-2623-Conf-Anx2-Red3). 529 Email from VPRS to the Chamber’s Legal Officer, 21 November 2022, at 12:38 hrs; and Email from VPRS to the Chamber’s Legal Officer, 7 February 2023, at 16:48 hrs. 530 Annex III to the Registry’s Transmission of the Democratic Republic of Congo on the issues relevant to the assessment of the actual damage and harm caused to the health centre in Sayo, ICC-01/04-02/06-2830-Conf- AnxIII. 531 CLR2 February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2834-Red , para. 12. 532 CLR2 February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2834-Red , para. 12. 533 CLR2 February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2834-Red , para. 14.
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a result of the crime, it found that the UPC/FPLC disrupted the medical care for persons in 534 need. As to the fact that no application has been presented for the Chamber’s consideration, as noted by the Appeal Chamber, the CLR2 posits that this should not preclude the Chamber from awarding reparations for the harm caused as a result of the attack, as the evidence is 535 sufficient to do so on the standard of balance of probabilities. 209. Regarding additional evidence, the CLR2 collected statements from witnesses who described the situation of the health centre before, during, and after the attack and fully 536 corroborate each other’s accounts. The witnesses, the CLR2 notes, make comprehensive statements on the impact of the attack on the Sayo health centre and provided coherent and 537 credible accounts. The CLR2 argues that, together with the evidence on the record, this new evidence demonstrates, on a balance of probabilities, that it is more likely than not that the attack led to the disruption of medical services in which resulted in a six months full cessation 538 of services, followed by a resumption of services at reduced capacity until today. 210. In the CLR2’s submission, the standard of causation is met, as by launching the attack Mr Ntaganda – knowing or reasonably expected to know the context of very limited medical resources – could have reasonably foreseen that the provision of medical care would be disrupted for at least some period of time, either because of physical damage or looting or 539 because of the staff fleeing. Further, the CLR2 argues that although external intervention contributed only partly to elevating the level of services, any sort of rehabilitation provided by external stakeholders does not diminish the convicted person’s liability to fully repair the 540 harm. Further, noting that the medical services remain to date reduced because of the lack of equipment and qualified staff and absent any evidence that the centre suffered any other 541 harm, the CLR2 submits that no issue of break of the chain of causation arises. 211. Regarding the harms caused as a result of the attack, the CLR2 argues that it caused material harm to the health centre as a legal entity, as its core business – the provision of
534 CLR2 February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2834-Red , para. 14. 535 CLR2 February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2834-Red , para. 15. 536 CLR2 February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2834-Red , paras 16-18, relying on ICC-01/04-02/06- 2834-Anx1-Red and ICC-01/04-02/06-2834-Anx2-Red . 537 CLR2 February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2834-Red , para. 19. 538 CLR2 February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2834-Red , para. 19. 539 CLR2 February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2834-Red , paras 20-21. 540 CLR2 February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2834-Red , para. 21, referring to Al Mahdi Reparations Order, ICC-01/12-01/15-236 , para. 65. 541 CLR2 February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2834-Red , para. 21.
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medical services – was disrupted with a subsequent loss of clientele, since patients are still
542 being referred to another facility. Relying on the findings in the Al Mahdi case that attacks
against protected objects cause various types of collective harms, the CLR2 argues that the
attack caused collective socio-economic and moral harm to the community of Sayo, as the
overall well-being of the community, both morally (distress) and in terms of provision of
543 medical services (disruption) was affected. The CLR2 also argues that individual patients
suffered physical, socio-economic, and moral harm, in light of the findings in the Conviction
Judgment that (i) three men and a woman with her baby were left behind in the centre and the
woman was killed, which is confirmed by recent statements; (ii) by launching the attack the
perpetrators accepted the consequential severe impact on the welfare and lives of any patients
present at the centre, it is more likely than not that the denial of medical treatment caused
physical and moral harm to sick or wounded patients (which could be a maximum of 25 people)
544 and at least psychological suffering to their relatives. Lastly, the CLR2 argues that, as
acknowledged in the Sentencing Judgment, medical personnel had to flee to protect their lives
and abandon patients to their fate, and they would have also suffered a particular type of moral
harm by being deprived of their right and duty to providing medical care to the sick and
545 wounded.
212 As to the appropriate types and modalities of reparations to address the above harms,
the CLR2 reiterates his previous submissions and, relying on the Al Mahdi case, also requests
that a lump sum be awarded to repair the Sayo health centre as a legal entity and the community
of Sayo, increasing the existing healthcare capacities as suggested by the Appointed Expert Dr
546 Gilmore. Regarding the individual harm suffered by patients, their relatives and medical
542 CLR2 February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2834-Red , paras 13, 22-24. 543 CLR2 February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2834-Red , paras 13, 25-31, referring to Al Mahdi Reparations Order, ICC-01/12-01/15-236 , paras 16, 56, footnote 29; to Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06- 2782 , para. 550; to Lubanga Separate Opinion Judge Ibáñez, ICC-01/04-01/06-3466-AnxII , paras 134-140; and to jurisprudence from the IACtHR. 544 CLR2 February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2834-Red , paras 13, 32-36, referring to Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , paras 506, 535; to Sentencing Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2442 , paras 144, 154; to Al Mahdi Reparations Order, ICC-01/12-01/15-236 , para. 97; and to International Committee of the Red Cross, Health Care Law Factsheet , March 2021. 545 CLR2 February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2834-Red , paras 13, 37-40, referring to the Sentencing Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2442 , para. 144; Word Medical Association, International Code of Medical Ethics, available online ; and Customary International Humanitarian Law (IHL) - Rule 110. Treatment and Care of the Wounded, Sick and Shipwrecked, available online. 546 CLR2 February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2834-Red , paras 41-44, referring to CLR2 December 2020 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2633-Red , paras 69-72, 77, 118; to Al Mahdi Reparations Order, ICC-01/12- 01/15-236 , paras 65, 116-118; to Al Mahdi Decision on Updated DIP, ICC-01/12-01/15-324-Red , paras 66, 72, 77-78; and to Second Expert Report, ICC-01/04-02/06-2623-Anx2-Red4 , para. 173.
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personnel, the CLR2 suggest that they be addressed through collective reparations with
547 individualised components, as with any other individual victims of the case.
c) Defence submissions
213 In its submissions, the Defence argues that the Appeals Chamber recalled the following
principles applicable to reparations: (i) the purpose of reparations is for the Chamber to
quantify the harm caused by the crimes for which Mr Ntaganda was convicted, to the
appropriate standard of proof and based on evidence of a causal nexus between the crimes and
548 the harm alleged; (ii) in order to protect the rights of the convicted person, ensure that
reparations are not awarded to remedy harms that are not the result of the crimes and protect
the victims’ right to appeal, the Chamber shall clearly define the harms; 549 (iii) the Court’s
statutory framework provides for the convicted person to be able to challenge any evidence
550 that could potentially be relied upon in the reparations order; and (iv) harm cannot be
551 attributed to the convicted person if a break in the chain of causation is established.
214 As to Dr Gilmore Report, the Defence submits that, in the absence of recordings and
unavailability of her notes, it is not possible to assess the credibility of her sources, or the
552 reliability and probative value that can be accorded to her report. Further, the Defence argues
that Dr Gilmore undermined her own conclusions in the report and neither established, or stated
553 when the health centre became functional again. However, in the argument of the Defence,
evidence adduced at trial establishes pursuant to the applicable balance of probabilities
standard, that the Sayo health centre became functional again ‘during this period’. 554
Accordingly, the Defence submits that the expert’s conclusions regarding the extent of Mr
Ntaganda’s liability for loss of adequate healthcare provisions to the community must be
547 CLR2 February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2834-Red, para. 45, referring to CLR2 December 2020 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2633-Red , paras 62-64. 548 Defence February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2833-Red , para. 22, referring to Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 531. 549 Defence February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2833-Red , para. 22, referring to Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 531. 550 Defence February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2833-Red , para. 22, referring to Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 531. 551 Defence February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2833-Red , para. 22, referring to Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 15. 552 Defence February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2833-Red , paras 23-25. 553 Defence February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2833-Red , para. 27. 554 Defence February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2833-Red , para. 27, relying on [REDACTED]; P-0886 at T-40 pp. 16-17 and Logbook of radio communications DRC-OTP-0017-0033, at 0036, 0042, 0044, 0045, 0047, 0048, 0053-0059, 0061, 0063-0069, 0071, 0075, 0077, 0084-0088, 0093, 0097, 0098, 0100.
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555 disregarded. The Defence also submits that the expert’s statements about the population’s
556 vulnerability relied in modern day examples and is not related to the alleged damage in 2002.
The expert’s conclusion that the damage to the health centre was extensive and caused by the
557 UPC/FPLC is, according to the Defence, baseless. Lastly, the Defence submits that the report
is contradictory when it asserts that it would be inappropriate and disproportionate to make Mr
Ntaganda liable for the full cost of a new health centre, but then concludes that he should be
liable for the full costs of several items, omitting consideration to the break in the chain of
558 causation.
215 As to the actual damage and harm caused by the attack to the health centre, the Defence
argues that to determine Mr Ntaganda’s liability it is necessary to begin by establishing the
559 state and functioning of the centre before the attack. Based on testimony heard at trial, the
Defence submits that (i) the Sayo health centre was a very rudimentary and basic structure,
with only a section of a single room dedicated to treatment of the wounded; (ii) later
interventions on the structure did not resolve in renovation of the existing buildings, but added
new buildings which were not present in November 2002; and (iii) at the time of the attack, the
centre had very limited functionality, as demonstrated by the scarce personnel employed, and
560 the absence of any doctor at the premises.
216 Regarding material damage to the centre, the Defence reiterates that the Conviction and
Sentencing Judgments did not find that damage was caused, and recall testimonies indicating
that the only visible damage was to doors and windows but that it could not be concluded that
561 they were damaged during the events of November 2002. Similarly, it could not be
established who took the equipment, mattresses and medication that had been taken from the
562 centre. Accordingly, the defence argues that no damage to the interior can be established
563 with precision, even on a balance of probabilities standard.
555 Defence February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2833-Red , para. 27. 556 Defence February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2833-Red , para. 28. 557 Defence February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2833-Red , para. 29. 558 Defence February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2833-Red , para. 30, referring to Second Expert Report, ICC-01/04-02/06-2623-Anx2-Red4 , paras 169, 173, 175. 559 Defence February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2833-Red , para. 31. 560 Defence February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2833-Red , paras 31-33, relying on [REDACTED]. 561 Defence February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2833-Red , paras 34-36, relying on P-0800 at T-68, pp. 52, 81; P-0813 at T-76, p. 60; and D-300 at T-217, pp. 50-51. 562 Defence February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2833-Red , para. 37, relying on [REDACTED]; P-815 at T76, p. 62 563 Defence February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2833-Red , para. 37.
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217 As to the information gathered by Dr Gilmore, the Defence argues that it comes from
unknown individuals and no useful information is provided, with the sources not demonstrating
564 that any material damage was caused to the centre at the relevant time. No other information
suggesting that the health centre suffered any material damage is available and, accordingly,
the Defence submits that the Chamber cannot impute any liability to Mr Ntaganda beyond the
565 entrance doors and windows.
218 As to the damage to individual victims, the Defence recalls evidence that only five
people were being treated at the health centre at the time of the attack and notes that no
566 application of other victims is included in the sample. While not opposing reparations being
awarded to individual victims, if any, who suffered a harm as a result of being deprived
healthcare, the Defence submits that victims must be held to a strict evidentiary standard,
567 noting that the prevailing circumstances at the time are crucial and must be considered.
219 As to the damage caused to the community as a whole for loss of adequate healthcare
provisions, the Defence argues that the Appeals Chamber’s findings yield the conclusion that
568 the civilian population did not suffer any such harm. As to the Prosecution’s submissions,
the Defence submit that they are assertions unsupported by any existing or new evidence and
569 omits to consider the break in the chain of causation. Discussing different evidence presented
at trial and the Dr Gilmore Report, the Defence submits that no evidence or information
570 currently available supports a finding of harm suffered by the community as a whole.
220 Regarding the causal link and breaks in the chain of causality, the Defence recalls the
Appeals Chamber findings and submits that, even if the Chamber were to impute any
responsibility to Mr Ntaganda for harm caused to the health centre, individual civilians or the
571 community as a whole, a break in the chain of causality significantly limits such liability.
Referring to evidence presented at trial, the Defence submits that the UPC/FPLC was chased
564 Defence February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2833-Red , paras 38-40, referring to Second Expert Report, ICC-01/04-02/06-2623-Anx2-Red4 , footnotes 663, 668 and para. 168. 565 Defence February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2833-Red , para. 41. 566 Defence February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2833-Red , para. 42, relying on [REDACTED]. 567 Defence February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2833-Red , paras 43-44, relying on [REDACTED]; Second Expert Report, ICC-01/04-02/06-2623-Anx2-Red4 , para. 170. 568 Defence February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2833-Red , para. 45, r eferring to Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , paras 544, 548. 569 Defence February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2833-Red , para. 46. 570 Defence February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2833-Red , paras 47-52, referring to on [REDACTED]; P-0886 at T-38, p.78, at T-39, pp. 25-30, 54; P-907 at T-91, p. 31; Second Expert Report, ICC-01/04-02/06-2623- Anx2-Red4 , para. 169 and footnote 667. 571 Defence February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2833-Red , paras 53-55.
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out by force from Sayo and Mongbwalu by other armed groups in early March 2003 and thus cannot be held accountable, from that moment on, for any harm caused as a result of the attack 572 in November 2002. In the argument of the Defence, the counter offensive launched in March 2003 breaks the chain of causality in respect of the November 2002 attack in the health centre in Sayo and Mr Ntaganda should not and cannot be held liable for reparations in relation to 573 everything that happened in Ituri during the past 20 years. d) Prosecution observations 221. The Prosecution observes that the evidence shows that the UPC/FPLC’s attack on the health centre in Sayo caused damage to the physical structure of the centre, in the form of 574 broken doors and windows as well as bullet holes in some of its walls. Moreover, the Prosecution notes that the attack resulted in a complete loss of medical equipment, staff and supplies, which caused a severe and prolonged disruption of the health centre’s services and 575 deprived the community of these essential services. 222. The Prosecution describes the events noting that (i) when the UPC/FPLC attacked Mongbwalu, injured people fled the town and went to seek medical assistance in the Sayo health centre; (ii) as the UPC/FPLC advanced through Sayo, it deliberately fired projectiles at the health centre, wounding a guard and causing people present at the centre to flee because of the danger; (iii) some patients were unable to flee, three seriously injured men as well as a Lendu woman and her child were left behind, the woman was killed and her child died in this context; (iv) some days after the attack, 27 partly decomposing bodies of dead men were found to have been left underneath the beds inside a room of the Sayo health centre; (v) some four months later, the health centre was still closed and there were traces of bullets on the walls, its doors and windows were broken and everything inside had been pillaged, including medical
572 Defence February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2833-Red , paras 56-57, referring to [REDACTED]; D-300 at T-221, pp. 38-39, 41, 69-72; Declarations Floribert Kisembo DRC-OTP-0161-3038 and DRC-OTP- 2055-1674, p. 27. The Chamber notes these two references could not be examined since, regarding the first document which contains 130 pages, the Defence made reference only to page 3039 which contains the name of the persons present during the interview, regarding the second document, which only contains 4 pages, the Defence made reference to page 27. 573 Defence February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2833-Red , paras 58-60. 574 Prosecution February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2827-Red , para. 7, relying on P-0800 at T-68, pp. 51-52 and witness statement DRC-OTP-2058-1115, pp. 1119-1120. 575 Prosecution February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2827-Red , para. 7, relying on the testimony of P- 0815 at T-76, p. 60; and P-0800 at DRC-OTP-2058-1115, pp. 1119-1120.
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equipment, medication, money and mattresses, the floor was covered by blood and there were 576 bullet cases. 223. Accordingly, the Prosecution is of the view that the evidence shows that the attack caused significant interruption of services both during the attack and for a considerable period thereafter, depriving the community of adequate health services for a significant time after the 577 attack due to the loss of medical personnel, equipment, and supplies. The Prosecution notes 578 to be unaware that the centre ever recovered its full operational capacity after the attack. 224. The Prosecution further argues that the evidence also established that the intentional 579 attack on the health centre was the ‘proximate cause’ for the harm described above. While based on the evidence the Chamber could not find beyond reasonable doubt that the soldiers looted the health centre, Mr Ntaganda was individually responsible to the attack on the health centre and it was reasonable foreseeable that it would result in (i) medical personnel and patients fleeing or attempting to flee; (ii) damage to the centre physical structure; and (iii) the 580 looting of its equipment and supplies, especially in the context of systematic pillaging. Accordingly, the Prosecution argues that it was reasonably foreseeable that the attack would 581 cause the disruption of services and a capacity loss. 2. Chamber determination 225. In light of the findings, submissions, and evidence above detailed, the Chamber hereafter provides its reasoning regarding the following aspects related to the attack on the Sayo health centre: (i) whether harm resulting from a conviction for the war crime of attack against protected objects under article 8(2)(e)(iv) of the Statute can be included in the Reparations Order, without it having been proven and quantified at trial; (ii) whether harm resulting from the attack on the Sayo health centre is sufficiently proven for the purposes of reparations; (iii) whether a causal nexus between the harm resulting from the attack on the Sayo
576 Prosecution February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2827-Red , paras 8-9, relying on the testimony of P-0800 at T-68, pp. 28, 51-52, 56 and DRC-OTP-2058-1115, pp. 1117-1120; P-0815 at T-76, pp. 31, 51, 60 and DRC-OTP-2062-2260, p. 2265; [REDACTED]. 577 Prosecution February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2827-Red , para. 10. 578 Prosecution February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2827-Red , para. 10. 579 Prosecution February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2827-Red , para. 11, referring to Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , para. 133. 580 Prosecution February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2827-Red , para. 11. 581 Prosecution February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2827-Red , para. 11.
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health centre and Mr Ntaganda’s liability is established; and (iv) quantification of the harm resulting from the attack on the Sayo health centre. a) Whether harm resulting from a conviction for the crime of attack against protected objects under article 8(2)(e)(iv) of the Statute can be included in the Reparations Order, without it having been proven and quantified at trial 582 226. As to this issue that arises out of the Appeals Chamber’s considerations, and the 583 Defence submissions, the Chamber notes that the lack of findings regarding possible damage to the centre or the community in the Conviction and the Sentencing Judgments is explained by the nature of crime under analysis. As determined in the Conviction Judgment, following 584 prior jurisprudence, the war crime of attack against protected objects in article 8(2)(e)(iv) of 585 the Statute is a conduct crime, not a results crime. Conduct crimes, do not require a result in terms of infliction of any harm or damage. The crime is committed, and a person can be found liable, for as long as the attack is launched against a protected object. Accordingly, the Prosecutor did not need to prove, and the Chamber was not required to make any determination beyond reasonable doubt for the purposes of conviction or sentence as to whether any harm was actually inflicted as a consequence of the crime. In this context, the Chamber is not prevented from making findings at the reparation stage of the proceedings, to the extent that the actual infliction of harm is proven at the applicable standard of proof of balance of probabilities. b) Whether harm resulting from the attack on the Sayo health centre is sufficiently proven for the purposes of reparations 227. Having holistically assessed the evidence in the case record, together with the additional evidence provided by the CLR2, the Chamber has concluded, on a balance of probabilities, that it was demonstrated that harm as a consequence of the attack against the health centre in Sayo
582 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , paras 535, 539-540, 548. 583 Defence February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2833-Red , para. 34. 584 Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , para. 1136 and footnote 3148, referring to Al Mahdi Judgment and Sentence, ICC-01/12-01/15-171 , footnote 29. 585 See, inter alia, ICC jurisprudence on the crime of attack against the civilian population, Trial Chamber IX, The Prosecutor v. Dominic Ongwen , Sentence, 6 May 2021, ICC-02/04-01/15-1819-Red , para. 149; or the crime of corruptly influencing a witness, Pre-Trial Chamber A, The Prosecutor v. Paul Gicheru , Decision on the confirmation of charges against Paul Gicheru, 15 July 2021, ICC-01/09-01/20-153-Red , para. 49 and Pre Trial Chamber II, The Prosecutor v. Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo et al , Decision pursuant to Article 61(7)(a) and (b) of the Rome Statute, 11 November 2014, ICC-01/05-01/13-749 , para. 30.
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586 was inflicted. The Chamber is of the view that the victims of this crime include the Sayo
health centre as a legal entity, the individual victims (patients that were receiving ongoing in-
hospital and ambulatory care at the time of the attack, the health centre staff, and indirect
victims of both the above), and the community of Sayo and its surroundings as a whole.
228 As suggested by the Defence, in order to better appreciate the scope of the harm caused
by the attack, it is necessary to consider the situation of the health centre before it was
587 attacked. The parties and the Prosecution refer to different pieces of evidence already in the
case record and recently obtained, which, although mostly consistent, appear to show minor
discrepancies as to the exact number of beds and staff working at the centre at the time of the
attack. Having analysed the evidence as a whole, the Chamber concludes, on a balance of
probabilities, that although the centre was a medical facility of a small size – one building
588 divided in two rooms, i.e. a dispensary and a maternity ward, its personnel consisted of
589 590 around six people, and there were around 14 beds placed in the two rooms – it was not a
‘very rudimentary and basic structure’ with ‘very limited functionality’, as argued by the
591 Defence. To the contrary, the evidence demonstrates that the centre actively supported the
community of Sayo and its surroundings, taking care, on a daily basis, of the sick and wounded
592 and of mothers and babies during delivery.
229 As to the Defence argument that the community of Sayo did not suffer harm, as prior
593 to the attack the health centre was mainly used to treat wounded combatants, the Chamber
notes the findings beyond reasonable doubt in the Conviction Judgment indicating that
‘members of the population, […] were still present when the attack started and subsequently
fled’. 594 In effect, the evidence recalled by the Defence in support of its submissions
586 As noted above, see supra para. 23, the Chamber underlines that, despite having carefully scrutinized all evidence and submissions, it will detail in this section only what it considers necessary to explain its reasoning. 587 Defence February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2833-Red , para. 31. 588 [REDACTED]; and ICC-01/04-02/06-T-69-CONF-ENG CT, p. 34 lns 1-6. 589 [REDACTED]. However, the Chamber notes that in the statements recently collected by the CLR2 the two witnesses are consistent in indicating that there were six members of personnel working at the health centre in Sayo prior to the attack, see ICC-01/04-02/06-2834-Anx1-Red , p. 3 and ICC-01/04-02/06-2834-Anx2-Red , p. 2. 590 [REDACTED]. 591 Defence February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2833-Red , para. 33. 592 See, inter alia, findings beyond reasonable doubt in the Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , para. 476, referring to the health centre in Sayo receiving injured individuals wounded during the failed assault on Mongbwalu on or about 9 November 2002 and para. 495, referring to a number of people wounded during the assault on Mongbwalu on or about 20 November 2002 having sought medical help at the health centre in Sayo; [REDACTED]. 593 Defence February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2833-Red , para. 47. 594 Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , para. 504 and footnote 1465.
No. ICC-01/04-02/06 98/156 14 July 2023
demonstrates that civilians were still present and only left Sayo during the attack, when the
595 town was taken by the UPC.
230 The Chamber further notes that it found beyond reasonable doubt in the Conviction
Judgment that all persons present at the time of the attack in the health centre fled, leaving
behind the sick and wounded who could not flee– three seriously injured men, a woman and
596 her baby – and at least the woman was killed by UPC/FPLC forces. The Chamber also found
beyond reasonable doubt in the Sentencing Judgment that although more than one projectile
was fired at the centre, and the centre was intentionally made the object of the attack, it was
597 not clear whether the weapon destroyed the centre in full or merely damaged it. Consistent
with the findings above, having reassessed the evidence as a whole, the Chamber finds that the
evidence clearly demonstrates that, although the centre may not have been fully destroyed by
the shelling, it lost its doors and windows, and received impacts on its walls, provoking such
fear in its personnel that they fled, essentially abandoning the building, as well as patients that
598 could not even run on their own.
231 The Chamber further underlines that the Sentencing Judgment found, also beyond
reasonable doubt, that, by launching an attack against the health centre, a facility that cares for
patients, the perpetrators accepted the consequential severe impact on the welfare and/or lives
599 of any patients present at the centre and disrupted the medical care for persons in need . As
noted above, having its doors and windows destroyed, the centre was abandoned during the
attack. The evidence further demonstrates that, once abandoned, the centre ceased providing
600 601 medical services. Afterwards, all its belongings were pillaged by unknown individuals,
and dead bodies and blood stains were discovered in the centre some months after the attack
595 See, inter alia , testimony of P-0886 relied by the Defence to argue that Sayo was the HQ of the lendu militia, Defence February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2833-Red , footnote 83, referring to T-38-CONF-ENG p. 78. However, the Chamber notes that the witness clearly indicated, in cross-examination, that civilians were still present when the UPC took over Sayo and left afterwards, see ICC-01/04-02/06-T-38-CONF-ENG CT2, p. 79 ln. 7 to p. 80 ln. 9. 596 Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , para. 506. 597 Sentencing Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2442 , para. 153. 598 See, inter alia, ICC-01/04-02/06-T-68-CONF-ENG CT, [REDACTED], p. 52 ln. 8-15, p. 81, ln. 5-14; DRC- OTP-2058-1115-R02, at 1118, para. 17 and at 1120, para. 28; ICC-01/04-02/06-T-76-CONF-ENG CT, p. 60 ln. 2-17; ICC-01/04-02/06-2834-Anx1-Red, pp. 2-3; ICC-01/04-02/06-2834-Anx2-Red, p. 2. 599 Sentencing Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2442 , para. 144 [emphasis added]. 600 See, inter alia, ICC-01/04-02/06-2834-Anx1-Red, p. 3; ICC-01/04-02/06-2834-Anx2-Red, p. 2. 601 See, inter alia, Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , footnote 1563, relying on the evidence of P-0886 and P-0800; ICC-01/04-02/06-2834-Anx1-Red , p. 2; ICC-01/04-02/06-2834-Anx2-Red , p. 2; ICC-01/04-02/06- T-76-CONF-ENG CT, p. 60, ln. 2-21; DRC-OTP-2062-2260 at 2265, para. 26.
No. ICC-01/04-02/06 99/156 14 July 2023
602 when the population returned to Sayo. Accordingly, the Chamber finds established, on a
balance of probabilities, that as a consequence of the attack the medical care for persons in
need within the community of Sayo and its surrounding areas was severely disrupted. The
Chamber notes that the evidence also demonstrates that the centre remained closed and only
603 resumed limited activities about six months after the attack, and was only partly rehabilitated
604 when a new building was constructed by an NGO in 2005. However, as discussed below,
relying on the findings in the Al Mahdi case, the Chamber notes that subsequent remedial
efforts by third parties do not alter the damage originally done, the harm actually caused, and
605 the corresponding reparations required to remedy it.
232 In the view of the Chamber, this assessment of the evidence reaffirms the previous
606 607 findings in the Sentencing Judgment and in the Reparations Order that the attack had a
severe impact on the welfare and lives of the patients present at the centre and disrupted the
medical care for persons in need . Further, although the Chamber relied on the specific wording
of Dr Gilmore to note in the Reparations Order that the attack ‘caused harm to its service
608 provision and exacerbated the vulnerability and suffering of the civilian population’, as noted
above, such determination is not only supported by the expert’s report, but it is a conclusion
that, on a balance of probabilities, is supported by the evidence assessed as a whole.
Accordingly, the Chamber rejects the Defence submission that the expert statement was based
609 on present day information, as inapposite.
233 In the interests of completeness in light of the Appeals Judgment findings, the Chamber
610 reiterates that, as noted in the previous section, it did assess the credibility, reliability, and
the basis for the reports of the Appointed Experts. Accordingly, having assessed the Defence’s
611 submissions and challenges to the Second Expert’s Report, taking into account Dr Gilmore’s
602 See, inter alia , [REDACTED]. 603 See, inter alia, ICC-01/04-02/06-2834-Anx1-Red , p. 3; ICC-01/04-02/06-2834-Anx2-Red , p. 2; [REDACTED]. 604 See, inter alia, ICC-01/04-02/06-2834-Anx1-Red , p. 3; [REDACTED]. 605 Al Mahdi Reparations Order, ICC-01/12-01/15-236 , para. 65. 606 Sentencing Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2442 , para. 144. 607 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 158, referring to Sentencing Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06- 2442 , paras 144, 154 and Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , para. 506. 608 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 159. 609 Defence February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2833-Red , para. 28. 610 See supra para. 180. 611 Defence February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2833-Red , paras 23-30 and Defence Submissions on Reparations (‘Defence December 2020 Submissions’), 18 December 2020, ICC-01/04-02/06-2634-Conf, paras 30, 119-120, 126, 136.
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expertise and the details provided about her sources and methodology in the report, within its discretion, the Chamber considered the expert credible and her report generally reliable. However, as with any other evidence in the case, the Chamber proceeded with caution, relying on the report only to the extent that it is consistent with the Chamber’s holistic assessment of the evidence regarding the harm caused as a consequence of the attack to the Sayo health centre. 234. The Chamber therefore reaffirms its findings in the Reparations Order that the attack to the health centre caused ‘damage to the health centre in Sayo and loss of adequate healthcare 612 provision to the community that benefitted from it’. In concrete terms, the Chamber considers that the victims of this attack, who should be able to benefit from reparations in this case, include (i) the Sayo health centre as a legal entity, as its doors and windows were destroyed, the building was partially damaged, and was abandoned during the attack, which brought as a consequence that it was pillaged and could not continue providing regular medical services; (ii) individual victims, including: a) patients that were receiving ongoing in-hospital and ambulatory care at the time of the attack, as they were not able to continue receiving treatment and those who were not able to run by themselves were abandoned on-site, which 613 had a severe impact on the welfare and/or lives of the patients; b) the health centre’s staff, as they were forced to run for their lives and abandon patients to their fate and were not able to fulfil their right and duty to providing medical care to the sick and wounded; and c) indirect victims of the patients and health centre staff referred above; and (iii) the community of Sayo and surroundings as a whole, as the medical services were suspended for at least six months as 614 a consequence of the attack, affecting the overall well-being of the community. c) Whether a causal nexus between the harm resulting from the attack on the Sayo health centre and Mr Ntaganda’s liability is established 235. The Chamber recalls that the causal nexus is to be determined ‘in light of the specific circumstances of a case’, 615 and that the standard of causation adopted in the case is the ‘but/for’ 616 relationship between the crimes and the harm. Moreover, it is also required that the crimes for which the person was convicted be the ‘proximate cause’ of the harm, and it is necessary
612 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 183(a)(x). 613 As already found beyond reasonable doubts, see Sentencing Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2442 , para. 144. 614 As noted by Judge Ibáñez Carranza, Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 550, referring to her separate opinion in the Lubanga case, Separate Opinion of Judge Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza (‘ Lubanga Separate Opinion Judge Ibáñez’), 16 September 2019, ICC-01/04-01/06-3466-AnxII , paras 138, 140. 615 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 131. 616 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 132.
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to assess whether it was reasonably foreseeable that the acts and the conduct underlying the 617 conviction would cause the resulting harm. 236. The Chamber further recalls that in the Conviction Judgment it found beyond reasonable doubt that Mr Ntaganda meant for the UPC/FPLC soldiers to indiscriminately attack the health centre in Sayo, knowing that medical facilities are protected against attack 618 under IHL. Similarly, the Chamber reiterates that, in the Sentencing Judgment, it was found beyond reasonable doubt that by launching an attack against the health centre, a facility that cares for patients, the perpetrators accepted the consequential severe impact on the welfare and/or lives of any patients present at the centre and disrupted the medical care for persons in 619 need. Further, the Chamber found the people left behind at the centre were particularly 620 defenceless, as they were unable to leave on their own and were left without medical care. 237. In light of the findings above beyond reasonable doubt and the conclusions that can derived from the evidence as reassessed at the current stage of the proceedings, the Chamber is satisfied that the standard of causation is met. In effect, in the view of the Chamber it has been demonstrated, on a balance of probabilities, that, by launching the attack against the health centre, Mr Ntaganda could have reasonably foreseen that the building would be damaged, patients would be severely affected, and the provision of medical care would be suspended, either because of damage to the facilities, pillaging, or because of the staff fleeing or having been harmed. In the view of the Chamber, but for the attack, the harm would not have occurred; thus, the crime of attack against a protected object for which Mr Ntaganda was convicted is the proximate cause of the harm caused to the centre, individual victims, and the community of Sayo and surroundings as a whole. 238. As to the Defence’s submissions regarding the alleged breaks in the chain of causality, the Chamber notes that it was established that the crime for which Mr Ntaganda was convicted is the proximate cause of the harm caused as a direct consequence of the attack. The Chamber has not considered the current situation of the health centre in order to determine the extent of the harm. As noted above, in order to determine the harm and identify the victims that may qualify to receive reparations, the Chamber assessed the evidence to determine the extent of the harm at the time of the attack and the immediate aftermath. Furthermore, it is precisely the
617 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , paras 132-133. 618 Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , para. 1188 [emphasis added]. 619 Sentencing Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2442 , para. 144 [emphasis added]. 620 Sentencing Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2442 , para. 154.
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621 timeframe indicated by the Defence, i.e., November 2002 to March 2003, which the Chamber considered most relevant to determine the extent of the harm caused to the health centre, individual victims, and the community as a whole. The Chamber underlines that Mr Ntaganda’s liability is limited to the harm caused as a direct consequence of the crimes for which he was convicted. He is not being held liable for reparations ‘in relation to everything that happened in Ituri during the past 20 years’, as alleged by the Defence. 622 Given that no further incidents other than those indicated above were taken into account, and recalling that a finding beyond reasonable doubt as to the perpetration of the attack has already been made in the context of the Conviction Judgment, the Chamber considers the Defence’s submissions about an alleged break in the chain of causation misplaced. . d) Quantification of the harm resulting from the attack on the Sayo health centre 239. The Chamber recalls the findings in the Al Mahdi case, where it was found that the fact that buildings may have been restored by others has no impact on whether the convicted person 623 is liable for the damage caused. As stressed in the Al Mahdi case: Remedial efforts by a third party in the time elapsed between the destruction and the issuance of the reparations order do not alter the amount of damage originally done. To place undue weight on this fact would be to understate the amount of harm 624 actually caused and the corresponding reparations required to remedy it. 240. As noted above, it was shown at the required threshold for reparations purposes that, as a consequence of the attack to the health centre, harm was inflicted on the centre, individual victims, and the community of Sayo and surroundings as a whole. Because of the harm caused as a consequence of the attack, the centre completely ceased to provide medical services for at least six months and services were severely disrupted afterwards. The disruption lasted for at least three years, but only due to the intervention of a third party that built certain facilities in 2005, which helped to alleviate the harms abovementioned. However, the Chamber underlines that Mr Ntaganda made no efforts to repair the harm caused by the attack or to alleviate the
621 Defence February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2833-Red , paras 56-57, referring to on [REDACTED]; D-300 at T-221, pp. 38-39, 41, 69-72; Declarations Floribert Kisembo DRC-OTP-0161-3038 and DRC-OTP- 2055-1674, p. 27. The Chamber notes these two references could not be examined since, regarding the first document which contains 130 pages, the Defence made reference only to page 3039 which contains the name of the persons present during the interview, regarding the second document, which only contains 4 pages, the Defence made reference to page 27. 622 Defence February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2833-Red , paras 58-60. 623 Al Mahdi Reparations Order, ICC-01/12-01/15-236 , para. 65. 624 Al Mahdi Reparations Order, ICC-01/12-01/15-236 , para. 65.
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victims’ suffering. The fact that the centre resumed services months or three years later due to the intervention of third parties is irrelevant. The Chamber’s only role at this point is to decide on the convicted person’s liability, taking into account the scope and extent of the damage, loss 625 or injury caused by the attack. 241. Considering that at the time of the attack the centre was a small-size medical facility – consisting of one building divided in two rooms, with 14 beds and a personnel of around six people –, the Chamber continues to be satisfied that, as suggested by Dr Gilmore within her expertise, a total amount of USD 130,000 appears to fairly compensate the material and immaterial harms caused to the centre due to the attack, which caused the destruction of doors and windows and panic, leading to the abandonment of the centre and consequent suspension in the provision of medical services. Most importantly, this amount is meant to compensate both the material and immaterial harm caused collectively to the community of Sayo and its surroundings as a whole, for the distress and additional expenses they had to incur due to the severe disruption of the medical care for persons in need within the community. 626 242. The above, the Chamber recalls, is estimated as a fair quantification of the harms inflicted on the health centre and the community by the attack and, as such, is not focused on rebuilding the facility that was not fully destroyed during the attack. The Chamber underlines that this estimation does not take into account any harm that might have been caused by third parties in the aftermath of the attack, as previously stressed. While relying on the estimates 627 provided by Dr Gilmore when determining the total amount of USD 130,000, as a fair reparation for the harms caused by the attack on the health centre, Mr Ntaganda is not being held liable for material losses in relation to which he was not found guilty. Rather, the Chamber has considered this estimate as the most appropriate indicator, under the current circumstances, to effectively measure and quantify to the extent possible the harm caused by the attack to the 628 health centre and the community as a whole, especially in relation to the immaterial harm.
625 As also found in the Al Mahdi Reparations Order, ICC-01/12-01/15-236 , para. 65. 626 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 242. 627 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 242, referring to Second Expert Report, ICC-01/04-02/06- 2623-Conf-Anx2-Red3, paras 168-169, 172-173. 628 The Chamber recalls that, although some forms of harms are essentially unquantifiable in financial terms – such as that suffered by the community as a result of the of a fully operational health centre in Sayo –, compensation is aimed at addressing, in a proportionate and appropriate manner, the harm that has been inflicted. See Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 84.
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629 243. Without prejudice to the above, and as suggested by the CLR2, the Chamber considers that the amount may be awarded as an appropriate way of repairing the harm caused to the Sayo health centre as a legal entity and to the community of Sayo and its surroundings, and be used to increase its existing healthcare capacities, in consultation with the local 630 631 healthcare practitioners. In addition, as instructed in the Reparations Order, to the extent that the community and individual victims agree, as a symbolic measure, a sign could be placed in the health centre indicating that the building enjoys special protection under international humanitarian law. Regarding the harm suffered by individual victims, meaning patients and medical personnel and indirect victims of the above – which the Chamber estimates would be 632 in total approximately between 25 to 33 people –, they are entitled to receive collective reparations with individualised components as any other victims of the attacks, as long as they satisfy the relevant evidentiary criteria. 3. Conclusion on the health centre in Sayo 244. In light of the above, the Chamber reiterates its previous findings in the Reparations Order regarding Mr Ntaganda’s liability to repair the harm caused as a consequence of the attack to the Sayo health centre, which is estimated regarding the harm to the centre and the 633 community in the total of USD 130,000. 245. In addition, victims of this crime include: (i) the Sayo health centre as a legal entity, (ii) individual victims (patients that were receiving ongoing in-hospital and ambulatory care at the time of the attack, the health centre staff and indirect victims of the above), and (iii) the community of Sayo and its surroundings as a whole.
629 CLR2 February 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2834-Red, para. 44. 630 The Chamber notes that, within its discretion, it finds reasonable to follow Dr Gilmore’s estimation of Mr Ntaganda’s liability for the material and immaterial harm caused to the centre and the community for this attack to be estimated by projecting the costs of improving the healthcare provision of the health centre as currently required. Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 242, relying on the Second Expert Report, ICC-01/04- 02/06-2623-Anx2-Red4 , paras 168-173. 631 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 208, referring to Second Experts Report, ICC-01/04-02/06- 2623-Anx2-Red4 , para. 174 and CLR2 December 2020 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2633-Red , paras 72, 75. 632 As noted below, this estimation is included in the Chamber’s calculation of the estimated total number of victims of the attacks and has been estimated considering that, at the time of the attack, (i) 6 members of personnel worked at the centre; (ii) the health centre had 14 beds, thus it is estimated that between 14 to 20 patients would have been receiving ambulatory and/or in-hospital care; and (iii) approximately 25% of the number of direct victims may qualify as indirect victims. 633 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 242.
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D. Presumption of physical harm for the victims of the attacks
1 Reparations Order and Appeals Judgement
246 In the Reparations Order, the Chamber found that it was ‘unquestionable that direct
victims that personally experienced the crimes committed during the attacks endured physical
suffering in connection with the very nature of the context of armed conflict and the attack
634 against the civilian population within which the crimes were committed.’ Similarly, the
Chamber recalled a finding in the Katanga case that ‘it is inherent to human nature that all
those subjected to brutal acts […] experience intense suffering, anguish, terror and
insecurity’. 635 Consequently, the Chamber did not consider necessary to scrutinise, inter alia ,
the specific physical harm alleged by each potential eligible direct victim of the attacks once
636 their eligibility had been established on a balance of probabilities. Accordingly, the Chamber
established, inter alia , a presumption of physical harm for ‘direct victims of the crimes
637 committed during the attacks, who personally experienced the attacks’.
638 247. The Appeals Chamber found, resolving one of the grounds of appeal of the Defence,
that the Chamber erred in reaching, without more, its presumption that victims of the attacks
639 suffered physical harm and remanded the matter for the Chamber to address the Defence’s
640 submissions and provide sufficient reasoning for its findings. The Appeals Chamber recalled
the Defence submission that ‘the war crimes of pillaging, attacking protected objects, and
destroying or seizing the property of an adversary do not necessarily and automatically imply
641 physical and psychological harm, as none of them require infliction of physical injury.’ The
Appeals Chamber further noted the Defence argument ‘that some of the underlying acts of
persecution in this case, such as pillaging and destruction of property, do not involve physical
harm’. 642 Similarly, it noted the Defence’s submission that, for the crime of attack against the
634 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 146, recalling a similar approach in the Lubanga Decision on the Size of Reparations Award, ICC-01/04-01/06-3379-Red-Corr-tENG , para. 184. 635 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 146, referring to Katanga Reparations Order, ICC-01/04- 01/07-3728-tENG , para. 128. 636 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 146. 637 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 146. 638 Defence Appellant Brief against the 8 March Reparations Order (‘Defence Appellant Brief’), 7 June 2021, ICC-01/04-02/06-2675 , paras 159-165. 639 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 701. 640 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 705. 641 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 702, referring to Defence Appellant Brief, ICC-01/04-02/06- 2675 , para. 164. 642 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 702, referring to Defence Appellant Brief, ICC-01/04-02/06- 2675 , para. 164.
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civilian population, the number of civilians injured is limited and not all instances resulted in injuries.’ 643 248. The Appeals Chamber recalled that the ‘concept of “harm”, while not defined in the Statute or the Rules, denotes ‘hurt, injury and damage’, and that it ‘may be material, physical and psychological’. 644 It further noted that, according to the Supreme Court of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Court of Cambodia’s (‘ECCC’), the concept of ‘physical injury’ denotes ‘biological damage, anatomical or functional’, and ‘may be described as a wound, mutilation, disfiguration, disease, loss or dysfunction of organs, or death’. 645 Although not endorsing it, the Appeals Chamber noted that the Defence ‘seems to be restricting the concept of “physical harm” to that of “infliction of physical injury”’, but concluded that ‘the scarce reasoning of the Trial Chamber allowed for this interpretation’. 646
249 The Appeals Chamber further indicated that, on its face, the Chamber’s finding appears 647 to presume that all victims of the attacks were physically injured. However, ‘[c]onsidering that not every victim of an attack necessarily suffers a bodily injury ’, and that the Chamber did not provide sufficient reasoning to support this conclusion, the Appeals Chamber found itself 648 unable to assess whether no reasonable trier of fact would have reached the same conclusion. 2. Chamber determination 250. In light of the findings above the Chamber hereafter provides its reasoning regarding the following aspects related to presumption of physical harm for victims of the attacks: (i) scope of the concept of physical harm; (ii) assessment of the information available as to the physical harm suffered by the victims of the different crimes committed during the attacks; and (iii) conclusions.
643 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 702, referring to Defence Appellant Brief, ICC-01/04-02/06- 2675 , para. 165. 644 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 703, referring to Lubanga Amended Reparations Order, ICC- 01/04-01/06-3129-AnxA , para. 10. 645 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 703, referring to ECCC, Appeal Chamber, The Prosecutor v KAING Guek Eav alias Duch, Appeals Judgement (‘ Duch Appeals Judgment’), 03 February 2012, 001/18-07- 2007-ECCC/SC , para. 415. 646 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 704. 647 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 704. 648 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 704.
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a) Scope of the concept of physical harm
251 In the view of the Chamber, whilst the concept of physical harm may encompass
physical or bodily injury, the notion as a whole, as developed and consistently applied at the
reparation stage of the proceedings before the Court is clearly broader in scope and is not restricted to the ‘infliction of a physical injury’. In the
649 650 651
Lubanga , Katanga , and Al-Mahdi
cases, the concept of physical harm was not strictly defined to mean ‘infliction of physical injury’. In the present case, the Chamber adopted the definition of harm developed in the
652
Lubanga case, which indicates that the concept of harm is not limited to ‘injury’, but also
653
includes ‘hurt’ and ‘damage’. The Chamber notes that a similar approach was followed by
654
other international criminal jurisdictions. The ECCC approach, which is deeply rooted in the
655
Cambodian domestic legislation, seems to be the exception rather than the rule.
649 Lubanga Amended Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-01/06-3129-AnxA , para. 10. 650 Katanga Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-01/07-3728-tENG , para. 74. 651 Al Mahdi Reparations Order, ICC-01/12-01/15-236 , para. 43. 652 Trial Chamber I, The Prosecutor v Thomas Lubanga Dyilo, Decision establishing the principles and procedures to be applied to reparations (‘ Lubanga Decision on Principles’), 7 August 2012, ICC-01/04-01/06-2904 , para. 228, where Trial Chamber I made its finding in line with the previous approach for participation throughout the case, see Trial Chamber I, The Prosecutor v Thomas Lubanga Dyilo, Decision on victims’ participation, 18 January 2008, ICC-01/04-01/06-1119 , para. 92, where it noted that victims may suffer from harm in a variety of different ways, including physical or mental injury, emotional suffering, economic loss or substantial impairment of his or her fundamental rights. It also noted that whilst the Statute framework does not provide a definition of harm, under Rule 85 of the Rules, Principle 8 of the ‘Basic Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Remedy and Reparation for Victims of Gross Violations of International Human Rights law and Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law,’ provided appropriate guidance when assessing harm. As outlined by Principle 8: victims are persons who individually or collectively suffer harm, including physical or mental injury, emotional suffering, economic loss or substantial impairment of their fundamental rights, through acts or omissions that constitute gross violations of international human rights law, or serious violations of international humanitarian law (Adopted by the United Nations General Assembly, resolution 60/147, 16 December 2005). When ruling on an appeal to that decision, the Appeals Chambers found no error in the Trial Chamber I’s reference to using Principle 8 for the purposes of guidance when assessing harm. It further noted that the word ‘harm’ in its ordinary meaning ‘denotes hurt, injury and damage’, that it ‘carries the same meaning in legal texts’ and can be material, physical and psychological if suffered personally by the victim, see Appeals Chamber, The Prosecutor v Thomas Lubanga Dyilo, Judgment on the appeals of the Prosecutor and the Defence against Trial Chamber’s Decision on Victims’ Participation, 11 July 2008, ICC-01/04-01/06-1432 , paras 31-33. 653 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 703 referring to Lubanga Amended Reparations Order, ICC- 01/04-01/06-3129-AnxA, para. 10. 654 For example, when dealing with this very same issue for the purposes of participation in the proceedings, the Appeals Chamber of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (‘STL’) rejected the ECCC’s interpretation of physical harm as a synonym for physical injury, arguing that the ordinary meaning of physical harm includes ‘physical injury, impairment of the body, pain and illnesses. The Appeals Chamber of the STL concluded that physical harm, as understood in its Rules, did not require proof of such gravity established by the ECCC’s definition of physical injury. See STL, Appeals Chamber , The Prosecutor v. Salim Jamil Ayyash , Decision on Appeal by Victim Applicant V1001 against the Pre-Trial Judge’s Decision of 17 April 2020 (‘ Ayyash Decision on Appeal’), STL- 18-10/PT/AC/AR86.1 , paras 35, 38. 655 ECCC Duch Appeals Judgment, 001/18-07-2007-ECCC/SC , paras 409-410, 413-415.
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252 A contextual interpretation of the Court’s statutory framework does not support
establishing a limitation on the concept of ‘physical harm’ focused on ‘bodily injury’ for the
purposes of reparations. Such an interpretation may have the unintended effect of limiting
access to reparations for the physical pain or suffering endured by victims of, inter alia , the
crimes of torture, other inhumane acts, inhuman treatment, wilfully causing great suffering,
656 cruel treatment, for which bodily injury is not required.
253 The Chamber recalls that, in adopting its presumption of physical harm in the
657 Reparations Order, it relied on, inter alia , similar presumptions made in the Lubanga case.
In that case, it was found that any direct victim who was conscripted or enlisted into an armed
658 group or who participated in combat, suffered physical harm. Similarly, the relevant chamber
concluded that indirect victims, owing to their close personal relationship with the direct
victim, suffered ‘in some cases, [in] a physical sense as a result of the direct victim’s
659 enlistment’. Accordingly, it was determined as ‘unquestionable [the fact] that victims endure
physical suffering in connection with the very nature of armed conflicts in which they were involved’. 660 As such, the Chamber saw no need to scrutinize the specific harm alleged by each
661 potentially eligible, direct and indirect, victim. It is worth noting that, when assessing the
662 alleged harm in the Lubanga case, the relevant chamber relied on submissions indicating
that victims reported ‘physical injuries and/or diseases contracted and developed as a result of
the extremely harsh living condition in the militia’ which, among other things, included ‘little
food, very poor sleep conditions and extremely poor sanitary conditions’.
254 Accordingly, the Chamber concludes that the concept of physical harm is not restricted
to the infliction of physical or bodily injury only. This concept is clearly broader in scope in
656 See Elements of Crimes, articles 7(1)(f), 8(2)(a)(ii)-1, and 8(2)(c)(i)-4 Crime against humanity and War Crime of torture, conduct requires ‘severe physical or mental pain or suffering’; 7(1)(k) Crime against humanity of other inhumane acts, conduct requires ‘great suffering, or serious injury to body or to mental or physical health’; 8(2)(a)(ii)-2 War crime of inhuman treatment, conduct requires ‘severe physical or mental pain or suffering’; 8(2)(a)(iii) War crime of wilfully causing great suffering, conduct requires ‘great physical or mental pain or suffering to, or serious injury to body or health’; 8(2)(c)(i)-3 War crime of cruel treatment, conduct requires ‘severe physical or mental pain or suffering’. 657 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 146 and footnote 377. 658 Lubanga Decision on Size of the Reparations Award, ICC-01/04-01/06-3379-Red-Corr-tENG , para. 180. 659 Lubanga Decision on Size of the Reparations Award, ICC-01/04-01/06-3379-Red-Corr-tENG , para. 178. 660 Lubanga Decision on Size of the Reparations Award, ICC-01/04-01/06-3379-Red-Corr-tENG , para. 184. 661 Lubanga Decision on Size of the Reparations Award, ICC-01/04-01/06-3379-Red-Corr-tENG , para. 185. 662 Lubanga Decision on Size of the Reparations Award, ICC-01/04-01/06-3379-Red-Corr-tENG , para. 173 referring to Lubanga OPCV Observations on Reparations, 25 April 2017, ICC-01/04-01/06-3293-Red-tENG , para. 28.
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the sense that hurt, pain or suffering otherwise not caused by a bodily injury can also amount to physical harm. b) Assessment of the information available in the present case as to the physical harm suffered by the victims of the different crimes committed during the attacks 255. The Chamber recalls that, within the terms of the conviction, direct victims of the following crimes committed during the attacks may have personally experienced the attack: Count 2 (attempted murder), Count 3 (attack against civilians), Counts 4 and 5 (rape), Counts 7 and 8 (sexual slavery), Count 10 (persecution), Count 11 (pillaging), Counts 12 and 13 (forcible transfer, deportation and displacement), Count 17 (attack against protected objects), 663 and Count 18 (destruction of property). 256. The Chamber notes that the direct victims of the crimes included in Counts 2, 4, 5, 7, and 8 are covered by presumptions of physical harm specific to the direct victims of attempted 664 murder, rape and sexual slavery. Accordingly, the Chamber shall determine whether it has sufficient information to presume physical harm in relation to the direct victims of the remaining crimes who personally experienced the attack. 257. Regarding Count 11 (pillaging) and Count 18 (destruction of property), the Chamber notes that in the Conviction and Sentencing Judgments it did not make finding as to physical harm suffered by victims in this context. However, in relation to pillaging, the Chamber found beyond reasonable doubt in the Conviction Judgment that the persons from whom the goods were taken, who were present at the time of the attack, were not in a position to agree freely to the UPC/FPLC taking their property, because of the coercive circumstances in which they had 665 no choice but to give up their property to the physical perpetrators. The Chamber notes that no additional information as to physical harm of the victims of these two counts could be found in the Sample. As such, although the Chamber considers that such coercive circumstances may have amounted to physical harm, pain, or suffering, in light of the information at its disposal, it concludes that no presumption of physical harm can be reached in relation to Count 11 (pillaging) and Count 18 (destruction of property).
663 Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , para. 1199; see also Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , paras 109-117. 664 See Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , paras 145-146. 665 Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , paras 1036, 1040.
No. ICC-01/04-02/06 110/156 14 July 2023
258 Similarly, in relation to Count 3 (attack against civilians) and Count 17 (attack against protected objects), although both are conduct crimes that do not require any actual harm to civilians to ensue from the attack, the Chamber did make several findings as to physical harm. Regarding attacks against civilians in the Conviction Judgment, the Chamber noted instances of when civilians were shot at, beaten and injured with, inter alia , rifles, bayonets and 666 machetes, or killed as the attacks unfolded. However, the Chamber acknowledges that these findings were limited to some instances and locations. Regarding attacks against protected objects, the Chamber found that during the attack against the health centre in Sayo at least one 667 668 woman was killed. [REDACTED]. The Chamber notes that no additional information as to physical harm of the victims of these two counts could be found in the Sample. The Chamber considers that, in addition to the physical injuries that the victims personally experienced they likely suffered physical harm, pain, or suffering. However, in light of the information at its disposal, the Chamber concludes that no presumption of physical harm can be reached in relation to Count 3 (attack against civilians) and Count 17 (attack against protected objects). 259. Regarding Count 10 (persecution) and Counts 12 and 13 (forcible transfer and displacement), the Chamber notes that extensive findings and information exists about the physical harm suffered by the victims. Regarding persecution, the Chamber recalls its finding that it presupposes a severe attack on fundamental rights such as the right to life, liberty and the security of person, the right not to be subjected to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment 669 or punishment, and the right not to be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile. In addition, the Chamber recalls its findings that by being subjected to, inter alia , forcible displacement in certain locations, some people lived in dire conditions, stayed in makeshift shelters or in abandoned houses, had no money and insufficient food and water and no access 670 to medical care, resulting in a severe deprivation of their fundamental rights, including their 671 right to life, and bodily integrity. 260. Regarding forcible transfer and displacement, the Chamber notes its findings in the Conviction Judgment, where it determined that in the First Operation, during the assault on Mongbwalu, many people who were present in the town as the assault unfolded, fled to the
666 See, for instance, Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , paras 911-912, 914-915. 667 Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , para. 506. 668 [REDACTED]. 669 Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , para. 991. 670 Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , paras 996, 1000, 1002. 671 Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , paras 999, 1008.
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672 bush and to other places. Some were forced to stay in makeshift shelters or in abandoned
673 houses where they had no money, insufficient food and water, and no access to medical care.
Similarly, during the unfolding of the Second Operation and the assault on Lipri and
surrounding villages, the Chamber recalled that the predominantly Lendu population of Lipri
674 and Tsili, sought refuge in the bushes. The Chamber noted that people who fled found
675 themselves in difficult conditions as they had very limited access to food and slept outside.
The Chamber also determined that on or around 22 February 2003, after the message about the
676 pacification meeting was conveyed to the Lendu in various locations, the Lendu people
accepted the invitation given that living in the bush without access to food, clothes, and
677 medicine was difficult to bear for those who had been displaced. The Chamber also recalled
that part of the population of Bambu and Kobu fled towards Mpetsi and Gola due to fighting
and were forced to endure harsh conditions, living in the bush without adequate food or
678 shelter. In addition, it recalled that following the UPC/FPLC assaults on Kobu and Bambu
on or about 18 February 2003, a number of individuals of Lendu ethnicity fled in the direction
of Gutsi, and that those hiding in the bush and that were staying in difficult conditions with
679 limited shelter and food.
261 In the Sentencing Judgment, the Chamber recalled that some of those who fled
Mongwalu, Lipri, Kobu and Bambu and Tsili went into the bush had to endure harsh
680 conditions, they did not have adequate shelter and had insufficient food and water. The
Defence asserted that the conditions endured by those forcibly transferred must be measured
against the general conditions of deprivation prevailing at the time which were unrelated to the
681 commission of the crime. Having considered the Defence’s challenges and submissions, the
Chamber determined that the fact that individuals had to leave their homes against their will,
put them in a worse situation than they were in to begin with, and therefore, caused them
682 harm.
672 Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , para. 497. 673 Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , para. 497. 674 Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , para. 568. 675 Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , para. 568. 676 Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , para. 591. 677 Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , para. 591. 678 Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , para. 612. 679 Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , para. 616. 680 Sentencing Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2442 , para. 162. 681 Sentencing Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2442 , para. 162. 682 Sentencing Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2442 , para. 162.
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262 In the Reparations Order, the Chamber recalled that for victims of the crimes of forcible
transfer, deportation, and ordering the displacement of the civilian population, in some cases,
683 individuals were forcibly displaced for a prolonged period. The Chamber further stressed
that some of the victims who went to the bush had to endure harsh living conditions without
adequate shelter, sufficient food and water, having to hide with no money and no access to
684 medical care. It recalled the evidence given by one witness who testified that while fleeing
their family suffered a great deal, that they did not have access to any medication and found it
very difficult to find anything to eat, because they had to move around in order to find food in
685 the fields.
263 The Chamber further assessed the testimony of a number of witnesses who through the
trial provided detailed accounts of the harsh and extreme living conditions they endured when
forcibly displaced. For example, P-805 indicated that it was extremely difficult for them to find
686 anything to eat and that they had to move around in the fields in order to find food, that
687 children were malnourished and had vitamin C deficiencies, that malaria was present in the
688 689 bush due to the mosquitos, and that they were not able to access medication. P-0863
690 confirmed that they went into the bush where there was no food, no shelter, and they spent
691 692 the night in the open air, burring people who had died of malnutrition. P-0018 indicated
that their life in the bush was very hard, that they found it ‘difficult to find food’ 693 and that
they ‘could spend the whole day without eating’, 694 695 and that there were no houses in the bush.
P-0019 also testified that their ‘health wasn’t good and there wasn’t enough food for
everyone’. 696
683 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 154, referring to Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06- 2359 , paras 536, 585, 722; see also Sentencing Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2442 , para. 161. 684 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 154; Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , paras 536, 585, 722; see also Sentencing Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2442 , para. 161. 685 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , paras 154; Transcript of hearing 16 September 2015, ICC-01/04- 02/06-T-26-Red2-ENG , p. 27, lines 5-8. 686 P-0805, T-26, ICC-01/04-02/06-T-26-Red2-ENG , p. 27, lines 5-10. 687 P-0805, T-26, ICC-01/04-02/06-T-26-Red2-ENG , p. 28, line 7-9. 688 P-0805, T-26, ICC-01/04-02/06-T-26-Red2-ENG , p. 28, lines 7-9. 689 P-0805, T-26, ICC-01/04-02/06-T-26-Red2-ENG , p. 27, lines 5-10. 690 P-0863, T-180, ICC-01/04-02/06-T-180-Red2-ENG , p. 34, line 13. 691 P-0863, T-180, ICC-01/04-02/06-T-180-Red2-ENG , p. 34, lines 13-14. 692 P-0863, T-180, ICC-01/04-02/06-T-180-Red2-ENG , p. 34, line 20. 693 P-0018, T-110, ICC-01/04-02/06-T-110-Red2-ENG , p. 60, line 22. 694 P-0018, T-110, ICC-01/04-02/06-T-110-Red2-ENG , p. 61, line 09. 695 P-0018, T-110, ICC-01/04-02/06-T-110-Red2-ENG , p. 61, lines 5-6. 696 P-0019, T-115, ICC-01/04-02/06-T-115-Red2-ENG , p. 18, line 8.
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264 In light of the considerations above, the Chamber determines that the sustained pain, suffering, and physical hurt caused by enduring extreme living conditions, such as prolonged hunger or lack of access to shelter or healthcare, and the diseases contracted and developed as a result of the extremely harsh living conditions in the bush can amount to physical harm. Considering the harsh conditions that the victims of forcible transfer, deportation, displacement, and persecution through the same underlying acts had to endure, the Chamber finds that it is more likely than not that those who were forced to flee and hide in the bush experienced physical harm due to the harsh living conditions they had to experience. In light of this, the Chamber considers it appropriate to maintain a presumption of physical harm for all victims of forcible transfer and displacement (Counts 12 and 13) and persecution (Count 10) through the underlying acts of forcible transfer and displacement that personally experienced the crimes. 265. However, for all the other victims of the attacks who may have suffered physical harm, which is not presumed, the Chamber underlines that it can be established through evidence demonstrating the (i) existence of physical harm; and (ii) the causal link between the physical harm and the crimes experienced. 3. Conclusion as to the issues regarding the presumption of physical harm for victims of the attacks 266. In light of the above, the Chamber concludes that no presumption of physical harm shall be applied to victims of Count 3 (attack against the civilian population), Count 11 (pillaging), 697 Count 17 (attack against protected objects), and Count 18 (destruction of property). 267. However, recalling the harsh conditions that the victims of forcible transfer and displacement and persecution through the underlying acts of forcible transfer and displacement had to endure, the Chamber concludes that the presumption of physical harm for all victims of forcible transfer and displacement (Counts 12 and 13) and persecution (Count 10) through the underlying acts of forcible transfer and displacement should be maintained. As in all cases, for the presumption to apply the victim will first need to establish, on a balance of probabilities, to be a direct victim of the crime of forcible transfer and displacement, for which Mr Ntaganda was convicted.
697 This is without prejudice to the presumptions of physical harm specific to Counts 1 and 2 (murder and attempted murder), Counts 4 and 5 (rape), and Counts 7 and 8 (sexual slavery).
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268 Regarding all the other victims of the attacks who may have suffered physical harm, and who fall out outside the scope of the presumption, the Chamber recalls that the harm may in any event be established by showing the (i) existence of physical harm; and (ii) the causal link between the physical harm and the crimes for which Mr Ntaganda was convicted.
E. Number of potentially eligible victims
1 Previous findings and submissions a) Reparations Order, Appeals Judgement, and implementing orders 269. In the Reparations Order, the Chamber noted (i) the substantially different estimations regarding the number of potential beneficiaries of reparations – provided by the Registry (1,100 new potential victims of the attacks), the Appointed Experts (3,500 direct victims in general) 698 and the CLR2 (at least 100,000 victims of the attacks across all locations); (ii) the number of participating victims (2,121) and the Registry’s estimations of those remaining withing the 699 scope of the conviction (1,460); and (iii) that all victims recognised as beneficiaries in the 700 Lubanga case (933 at the time) will also be eligible for reparations in the Ntaganda case. On this basis, noting that thousands of victims may be eligible for reparations in the case, the Chamber concluded that it was impossible to predict in advance how many victims may ultimately come forward to benefit from reparations, particularly considering the widespread, 701 systematic, and large-scale nature of the crimes for which Mr Ntaganda was convicted. Lastly, the Chamber noted that, at that stage, concrete numbers existed only regarding the victims authorised to participate in the case and the beneficiaries for reparations in the Lubanga case, but a significant number of potentially eligible victims for which no reliable figures were 702 available were yet to be identified. 270. The Appeals Chamber found that, in the circumstances of the case – where collective reparations with individualised components were awarded – one of the most fundamental parameters for setting the amount of the reparations award is the number of victims that it is 703 intending to compensate. In the view of the Appeals Chamber, the Chamber failed in its duty to establish an actual, or estimated, number of victims of the award that was as concrete as
698 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , paras 232-233. 699 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 234. 700 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 235. 701 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 246. 702 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 246. 703 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , paras 157-164.
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704 possible and based upon a sufficiently strong evidential basis. The Appeals Judgment indicated that, although the Chamber clearly set out the various estimates, along with the number of participating victims and the number of victims recognised in the Lubanga case, it did not expressly rule upon which of the varying estimates and numbers it found more 705 persuasive. Accordingly, the Appeals Chamber found that the Chamber erred in failing: (i) to make any appropriate determination in relation to the number of potentially eligible or actual victims of the award; and/or (ii) to provide a reasoned decision in relation to its conclusion about that number; and (iii) to provide any reasoning in relation to the uncertainties that it stated 706 it had resolved in favour of the convicted person. 271. In the November 2022 Decision, the Chamber directed the parties and participants to complement their submissions regarding the estimated total number of potential beneficiaries of reparations, along with an explanation of the methodology used to provide such an estimate. In the paragraphs below, the Chamber details the submissions made by the parties and participants regarding the number of potentially eligible victims, before turning to its considerations. b) CLR1 submissions 272. The CLR1 recalls her previous filings where she indicates to have set out the factors to 707 be taken into account in order to reach a reliable estimate. In her previous submissions, the CLR1 indicated that the number of potential beneficiaries estimated by the Appointed Experts, i.e. 3,500 direct victims including both child soldiers and victims of the attacks, was ‘far from being realistic’. 708 With regards to child soldiers, the CLR1 noted that the Appointed Experts only took into account the fact that 283 child soldiers participated in the Ntaganda case and 709 425 victims were initially determined eligible in the Lubanga case. However, the estimated Lubanga victims, at the time, were approximately 3,000 victims and she argued that it would be reasonable to assume that additional former UPC/FPLC child soldiers, particularly from the Hema community might be willing to come forward and seek reparations in the Ntaganda case, as additional individuals tend to come forward when they know the potential content of
704 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , paras 165-168. 705 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , paras 168-170. 706 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , paras 171-172. 707 CLR1 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2821 , para. 47, referring to CLR1 December 2020 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2632 , paras 34-43. 708 CLR1 December 2020 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2632 , paras 34-35. 709 CLR1 December 2020 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2632 , para. 34.
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710 reparations. Accordingly, the CLR1 submitted that ‘while a precise estimate of the total
number of former UPC/FPLC child soldiers eligible for reparations in the present case cannot
be calculated at the present stage, the figure is likely to exceed 3,000 individuals, both direct
and indirect victims.’ 711 Regarding former child soldiers who were also victims of rape and
sexual slavery, without advancing any estimated additional numbers, the CLR1 stressed in her
previous submissions that they may be particularly reluctant to come forward due to the high
712 levels of trauma and stigmatisation.
273 The CLR1 argues that the number of victims previously advanced should be adjusted
to take into account the fact that children of direct victims should be considered as indirect
713 victims of the case. Regarding the number of indirect victims, the CLR1 estimates that, on
714 average, her clients have approximately four children. However, she indicates that open
sources data, which she considers to be more reliable, show that, on average, women have at
715 least six children.
c) CLR2 submissions
274 The CLR2 reiterates in full his previous submissions, the rationale behind them, and
716 his estimated total number of potential beneficiaries. The CLR2 argues that the most efficient
and pragmatic method to estimate the number of potential beneficiaries eligible as direct
victims is to rely on the population size of the affected villages at the time the crimes were
717 committed. In effect, the CLR2 has argued throughout the reparation proceedings that entire
village communities were targeted and victimised, and therefore, all those who were residing
710 CLR1 December 2020 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2632 , paras 35-36. 711 CLR1 December 2020 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2632 , para. 37. 712 CLR1 December 2020 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2632 , paras 38-43. 713 CLR1 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2821 , para. 48. 714 CLR1 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2821 , para. 48. 715 CLR1 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2821 , para. 48 referring to the data collected by the World Bank, which indicates that the fertility rate in the DRC from 1960 to 2020, available at: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.DYN.TFRT.IN?locations=CD&most_recent_year_desc=true . 716 CLR2 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2820 , para. 44, referring to CLR2 February 2020 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2477-Red-Corr , paras 71-72; Submissions by the Common Legal Representative of the Victims of the Attacks pursuant to the “Order to provide information on the impact of COVID-19 measures on operational capacity” (‘CLR2 April 2020 Submissions’), 21 April 2020, ICC-01/04-02/06-2518-Conf-Exp (confidential redacted and public redacted versions of same date, ICC-01/04-02/06-Conf-Red2, ICC-01/04-02/06- 2518-Red ), paras 15-16; CLR2 December 2020 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2633-Red , paras 112-115; Request of the Common Legal Representative of the Victims of the Attacks for an Order to the Registry to collect information pertaining to reparations (‘CLR2 November 2020 Request’), 9 November 2020, ICC-01/04-02/06- 2624 , paras 17-30; and Appeal Brief of the Common Legal Representative of the Victims of the Attacks against the Reparations Order (‘CLR2 Appeal Brief’), 7 June 2021, ICC-01/04-02/06-2674 , paras 60, 64-73, 77, 81-82. 717 CLR2 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2820 , para. 45.
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or otherwise present at the locations of the crimes at the time of the events should be considered
718
as potential beneficiaries of reparations.
275 The CLR2 submits that his approach is supported by the following four factors. First,
as determined by the Chamber (i) Mr Ntaganda was convicted for, inter alia , mass-crimes
affecting 13 communities, which forced inhabitants to flee; (ii) a great number of people who
fled Mongbwalu arrived in the Walendu-Djatsi collectivité and were concentrated in Lipri,
Kobu, and Bambu; (iii) while the objective of the operation in the villages was to destroy the
triangle, the crimes were premediated and aimed to drive out the Lendu, who constituted the
majority of inhabitants of Mongbwalu and Sayo and predominated in the villages of the
719
Walendu-Djatsi collectivité , and prevent their return. Second, there are publicly available
figures on the estimated population size of Mongbwalu in 2002 and 2004, which show that a
720
population of around 80,000 – with Lendu constituting the majority – shrunk to 26,174.
Third, the Registry provided estimations in the number of inhabitants at the time of the events
721
in some other affected villages. Fourth, there is an estimated 60,000 persons displaced in the
722
shika na mukono operation according to the evidence on record. Accordingly, the CLR2
reiterates his submission that the total number of potential beneficiaries as direct victims is at
least 100,000, which the Chamber is in a position to roughly estimate based on the evidence
723
available on the record.
718 CLR2 April 2020 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2518-Red , para. 15; see also CLR2 February 2020 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2477-Red-Corr , para. 71; CLR2 November 2020 Request, ICC-01/04-02/06- 2624 , para. 20. 719 CLR2 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2820 , para. 45, referring, inter alia, to the Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , paras 497, 505, 537, 549, 558, 571, 573, 585-586, 603, 604, 612, 615-617, 640. 720 CLR2 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2820 , para. 45, referring to CLR2 February 2020 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2477-Red-Corr , para. 71, which relies on DRC-OTP-0074-0422, United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Special Report on the events in Ituri, January 2002-December 2003, 16 July 2003, S/2004/573 (‘DRC-OTP-0074-0422, S/2004/573’), para. 98, available at: https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N04/430/63/IMG/N0443063.pdf?OpenElement ; and World Gazetteer, Congo (Dem. Rep): largest cities and towns and statistics of their population (‘World Gazetteer, Congo’), available at: https://archive.ph/20130210151812/http:/worldgazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&men=gcis&lng=en&des=gamelan&srt=npan&col=abcdefghinoq&msz=1500&geo=- 46 . 721 CLR2 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2820 , para. 45, referring to figures provided in Annex II – Registry February 2020 Observations, ICC-01/04-02/06-2475-AnxII-Red3 , pp. 12-13. 722 CLR2 January 2023 Submission, ICC-01/04-02/06-2820 , para. 45, also mentioned in CLR2 February 2020 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2477-Red-Corr , para. 71, footnote 73, relying on DRC-OTP-0074-0422, S/2004/573 , para. 70. 723 CLR2 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2820 , para. 46.
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276 The CLR2 further submits that the likely very high number of victims originating from other locations should also be taken into account, where they suffered harm in the forest or 724 bush surrounding the affected locations, as determined by the Chamber. Finally, regarding indirect victims , the CLR2 reiterates that the estimation should be based on the average family composition in light of the notion of family in the DRC, which includes both close and remote relatives, which the Chamber could estimate based on the information contained in the dossiers 725 of the victims included in the Sample. d) Defence submissions 277. The Defence submits that, first, the Chamber may consider the information available in 726 terms of the numbers as it has evolved since the Reparations Order was issued. What has not changed, the Defence notes, is the number of: (i) participating victims (2121), (ii) potential victims assessed as eligible by the TFV (69), (iii) participating victims of the attacks assessed by the Registry as being beyond the scope of the Conviction Judgment (661), (iv) potential beneficiaries having filed long forms (53), (v) potential beneficiaries who have never been in contact with the Court (39), and (vi) the Registry’s approximate estimate of individuals who 727 may qualify as new potential victims of the attacks (1,100). What has changed during this period according to the Defence is: (i) the number of victims of crimes against child soldiers found eligible in the Lubanga case (2,479) and (ii) the new victims mapped by the Registry 728 (780) believed to be included in the earlier estimate of 1,100. 278. Second, the Defence notes that the Chamber decided to consider a sample of potential beneficiaries, which the Defence challenges as being incapable of addressing the ultimate issue 729 on remand. In effect, even assuming arguendo that the sample is representative, and might thus be used to draw conclusions on the types of harm, the Defence submits that no conclusion 730 can be drawn therein concerning the number of potential beneficiaries in the case. In the argument of the Defence, the sample in this case cannot be compared with that assembled in the Lubanga case, which was put together during a period of 14 months and included all
724 CLR2 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2820 , para. 46, referring in general terms to the Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 ; and the Decision on issues raised in December 2020 Decision, ICC-01/04-02/06-2630 . 725 CLR2 January 2023 Submission, ICC-01/04-02/06-2820 , para. 47. 726 Defence January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2823-Red , para. 51. 727 Defence January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2823-Red , para. 51. 728 Defence January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2823-Red , para. 52. 729 Defence January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2823-Red , paras 53-56. 730 Defence January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2823-Red , para. 56.
No. ICC-01/04-02/06 119/156 14 July 2023
731 participating and the non-participating victims identified during that period. Accordingly,
the Defence submits that the appropriate way forward would have been for the VPRS to
conduct a detailed mapping exercise, as expeditiously as possible, with a view to identifying 732 new potential beneficiaries and collect new application forms.
279 Regarding the CLR2’s estimate of 100,000 potential victims, the Defence submits that
it is unreliable as an important distinction must be made between official figures regarding the
population of a given municipality before the conflict and the number of persons not taking 733 active part in the hostilities present at the time of the crimes. Lastly, regarding indirect
victims, the Defence recalled that in the Lubanga case the Chamber established that the ratio
of indirect to direct victims was around 25%, thus no multiplying factor should be used when 734 attempting to determine or extrapolate the number of indirect victims from direct ones.
e) TFV observations
280 The TFV observes that any current exercise to determine the number of potential 735 beneficiaries prior to the implementation of reparations will be inexact. In its experience,
potential beneficiaries come forward at various stages, including during outreach campaigns 736 and later in time, when other beneficiaries actually start receiving reparations. It argues that
at the present stage of the proceedings, any number submitted will be nothing more than an 737 educated guess , made on the basis of information from various sources and stakeholders.
The TFV reiterates its support of the Chamber’s indication in the Reparations Order that it was
impossible to predict in advance how many victims may ultimately come forward to benefit
738 from collective reparations.
281 The TFV further notes that, as reported when submitting the DIP, consultations did not
shed much more light on the potential number of beneficiaries when it comes to victims of the 739 attacks. In its consultations with leaders of certain affected localities, the TFV learned that
731 Defence January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2823-Red , paras 57-58. 732 Defence January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2823-Red , paras 59-60. 733 Defence January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2823-Red , para. 60. 734 Defence January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2823-Red , para. 61. 735 TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , para. 44. 736 TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , para. 44. 737 TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , para. 44 [emphasis added]. 738 TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , para. 45; Trust Fund for Victims’ second submission of Draft Implementation Plan (‘Submission of Updated DIP’), 25 March 2022, ICC-01/04-02/06-2750 , para. 91. 739 TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , para. 45; Updated DIP, ICC-01/04-02/06-2750- Anx1-Red-Corr , para. 92.
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around the time of the attacks more than 100,000 persons from all different ethnic groups, i.e. 740 Hema, Lendu, etc., lived in the affected areas. However, the TFV observes that, at the time
of the attacks, most inhabitants had already left, and thus, do not appear to necessarily fall 741 within the scope of the conviction.
282 In light of the above and considering the need to work with concrete numbers in developing the DIP, the TFV calculated that at least about 21,500 individuals could be 742 beneficiaries of reparations as direct and indirect victims of the attacks. As to the former child soldiers, the TFV notes that there is not much debate about their numbers, as the Chamber 743 made very detailed findings in the Lubanga case.
744 283. In its Updated DIP, submitted at the Chamber’s instruction, the TFV indicated that it assumed that, at the very least, about 7,500 beneficiaries belong to the categories of victims of the attacks who have suffered forms of material, psychological and possibly physical harm, as: (i) direct victims of all crimes; (ii) close family members of victims of murder and rape or sexual slavery; (iii) indirect victims of all crimes insofar as they attempted to prevent the commission of one or more of the crimes under consideration or intervened on behalf of direct victims and who were ‘further harmed as a result of the relevant crime’. 745 In addition, the TFV indicated that, on the basis of the abovementioned figure, it considered that an important number of indirect victims, likely going beyond 14,000 individuals, belonged to the groups of persons who suffered harm as a result of what they witnessed during and after the attacks and persons who suffered transgenerational harm, who would have primarily suffered 746 psychological harm.
284 Regarding victims of crimes against child soldiers, in the Updated DIP the TFV recalled that Mr Ntaganda’s conviction covers a longer time-period than Mr Lubanga’s, but noted that
it has yet to see the application of a victim that would fall only within the temporal scope of
740 TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , para. 45; Updated DIP, ICC-01/04-02/06-2750- Anx1-Red-Corr , para. 92. 741 TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , para. 45. 742 TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , para. 45. 743 TFV January 2023 Submission, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , para. 47, referring to Lubanga Decision on the Size of Reparations Award, ICC-01/04-01/06-3379-Red-Corr-tENG . 744 Decision on the ‘Request of the Common Legal Representative of the Former Child Soldiers for an extension of the time limit to respond to the Trust Fund for Victims’ Draft Implementation Plan’ and additional request by the TFV, 21 January 2022, ICC-01/04-02/06-2739 . 745 Updated DIP, ICC-01/04-02/06-2750-Anx1-Red-Corr , para. 93, referring to Reparations Order, ICC-01/04- 02/06-2659 , para. 183(d)(ii) detailing a Chamber’s findings as to the type of harm suffered by indirect victims. 746 Updated DIP, ICC-01/04-02/06-2750-Anx1-Red-Corr , para. 94, referring to Reparations Order, ICC-01/04- 02/06-2659 , paras 177-182, detailing the Chamber’s findings as to the type of harm suffered by indirect victims.
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747 the Ntaganda case. Accordingly, the TFV argued that applications falling within the
748 temporal scope of the Ntaganda case only will likely be exceptional. Taking into account
749 that Mr Ntaganda was also convicted of rape and sexual slavery of child soldiers, and that
the Lubanga programme is already active, for the purposes of the DIP the TFV assumed that
there would be approximately 3,000 victims who suffered material, psychological and often
physical harm, considering: (i) direct victims, including children born out of rape and sexual
slavery; (ii) close family members of direct victims; and (iii) indirect victims who intervened
750 in the commission of the crime. In addition, the TFV assumed that for the purposes of the
DIP that there will be at least 6,000 indirect victims of the crimes against child soldiers
751 suffering transgenerational harm.
f) Registry observations
285 The Registry notes that following its preliminary mapping exercise carried out in 2019,
it estimated that at least approximately 1,100 new potential applicants, belonging to the group
752 of victims of the attacks, may come forward to claim reparations. The Registry further
reported in 2022 that it had mapped out approximately 780 potential new applicants, who were
753 mostly already accounted for in the context of the preliminary mapping. However, the
Registry notes that these estimates were conservative, collated in the context of a limited
targeted approach aimed at identifying individuals for whom it could be said with a relative
754 degree of certainty – based only on secondary sources – that they were victims of the case.
Further, the Registry notes that the figures provided in the preliminary mapping related to
potential beneficiaries who resided or had returned to the localities relating to the First and
755 Second Operation. However, the Registry observes that more than 70% of the pre-conflict
756 population of these localities still had not returned.
747 Updated DIP, ICC-01/04-02/06-2750-Anx1-Red-Corr , paras 100-101. 748 Updated DIP, ICC-01/04-02/06-2750-Anx1-Red-Corr , para. 101. 749 Updated DIP, ICC-01/04-02/06-2750-Anx1-Red-Corr , para. 104. 750 Updated DIP, ICC-01/04-02/06-2750-Anx1-Red-Corr , para. 109. 751 Updated DIP, ICC-01/04-02/06-2750-Anx1-Red-Corr , para. 110. 752 Registry January 2023 Submission, ICC-01/04-02/06-2822 , para. 17, referring to Annex I to the Registry Observations on Reparations, 28 February 2020 (‘Annex I – Registry February 2020 Observations’), ICC-01/04- 02/06-2475-AnxI , para. 25. 753 Registry January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2822 , para. 17, referring to Registry Observations on Updated DIP, ICC-01/04-02/06-2766-Red , para. 19. 754 Registry January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2822 , para. 18. 755 Registry January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2822 , para. 19. 756 Registry January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2822 , para. 19.
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286 The Registry indicates that it now concurs with the CLR2 submission that some crimes – such as attack against the civilian population, forcible transfer, and displacement – are likely 757 to have victimised large portions of the population living at the time in these localities. Accordingly, the Registry notes that it sought additional information by undertaking 758 consultations in the field, and provides the following details of the population purportedly living in the crime localities before the attacks: (i) Collectivity of Banyalo-Kilo : a) Mongbwalu, Sayo and Nzebi, including most populated neighbourhoods of Sayo and Nzebi (Kilo-Moto), but excluding villages around the periphery of Mongbwalo: 102,000 inhabitants; b) Kilo Mission: 3,800 inhabitants, including the population of its 27 surrounding villages and Kilo Etat: 6,350 inhabitants, including the population of its 14 villages surrounding villages; (ii) Collectivity of Walendu-Djatsi , excluding Sangi, Jitsu, Buli, Tsili and Gola: a) Kobu: between 15,000 – 18,000 inhabitants; b) Bambu: between 12,000 – 13,000 inhabitants; c) Lipri and vicinity: 4,246 inhabitants, including the population of the following surrounding villages located within a range of five kilometres from Lipri Centre: Ngongo, Tuduchabo, Gamangilo, Ekolo, Makabo Ngongo, Simbabo, Ndigadu, Kishiga, Godu, Kabisabo, Nganda, Solasola, Anjabo, Waga, Kisiga II, Kalonga and Waga II, but excluding Lipri Centre; and d) Nyangaray and vicinity: Nyangaray centre: 3,200 inhabitants and Nyangaray groupement : 33,112 759 inhabitants. 2. Chamber determination a) Introduction 760 287. The Chamber first notes that, although specifically directed to do so, the Prosecutor did not make submissions as to the number of potential beneficiaries of reparations in the case. On this point, the Chamber underlines that, while not a party to the reparation proceedings, the Prosecutor remains the impartial organ of justice responsible for conducting investigations and prosecutions, who should have formulated the charges in a clear, unambiguous, exhaustive and
757 Registry January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2822 , para. 20. 758 Registry January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2822 , para. 21. 759 Annex – Registry January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2822-Anx-Red . The Chamber notes that although the Registry noted that Nyangaray was both a locality and a groupement , comprised of 42 villages, with the Dembu, Tonabo, Ngoto, Sindani and Bwegwe located within 5 kilometres or less from Nyangaray Centre, it did not specify whether the number given was only for these five villages or related to the 42. 760 November 2022 Decision, ICC-01/04-02/06-2794 , para. 37 and disposition, directing among others to the Prosecutor to provide ‘any additional information or documentation they might have as to the estimated total number of potential beneficiaries of reparations in the present case, along with an explanation of the methodology used to provide such estimate’.
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761 self-contained way, with the required level of specificity depending on the nature of the case. Even if not required to identify or indicate the exact number of victims in cases involving masscrimes, the Prosecutor is still expected to have a clear understanding of the parameters of the case for which a conviction was requested and obtained. As such, it should have been able to provide the Chamber with, at least, an approximate number of potential beneficiaries in the case and should have not failed to comply with the Chamber’s clear instructions. At a minimum the Chamber expected the Prosecutor to explain the lack of submission on this point. 288. In the paragraphs below, the Chamber provides its reasoned conclusions as to the estimated number of potential beneficiaries of reparations, based on the submissions made throughout the reparation proceedings, the information and evidence in the case file, and the conclusions that can be reached from the analysis of the Sample. b) Direct and indirect child soldiers’ victims 289. The Chamber recalls that the CLR1 reiterated her prior submissions wherein she argued that the number could not be calculated , but that it is likely to exceed 3,000 individuals, 762 covering both direct and indirect victims. The TFV indicated to have assumed – as required for the purposes of the DIP – that approximately 3,000 victims suffered material, psychological and often physical harm as a result of crimes against child soldiers, and that, in addition, at 763 least 6,000 indirect victims would have suffered transgenerational harm. However, the Chamber notes that TFV again stressed that the numbers submitted were nothing more than an educated guess and stressed in that any current exercise to determine the number of 764 beneficiaries will be inexact . 765 290. The Chamber notes that, according to the terms of the conviction and sentence, this group of victims includes: (i) the overlapping direct and indirect victims between the Ntaganda and Lubanga cases; and (ii) the additional Ntaganda only victims, including: a) child soldiers falling under the temporal scope of the Ntaganda case only, i.e., beyond the temporal scope of
761 Chambers Practice Manual, Sixth Edition, adopted following the judicial retreat of 2021, available at: https://www.icc-cpi.int/sites/default/files/2022-11/chamber-manual-eng-v.6.pdf , para. 35, 37-38. See also , Conviction Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2666-Red, para. 326. 762 CLR1 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2821 , para. 47, referring to CLR1 December 2020 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2632 , paras 34-43. 763 Updated DIP, ICC-01/04-02/06-2750-Anx1-Red-Corr , para. 109-110. 764 TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , paras 44-45. 765 Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , paras 974-986, 1117-1133, 1190-1198, 1199 at p. 528-529; Sentencing Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2442 , paras 108-113, 178-185.
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the Lubanga case; b) child soldiers who are also victims of sexual and gender based crimes and
children born out of rape and sexual slavery against child soldiers (‘SGBV child soldiers victims’); and d) indirect victims of all the above.
766
291 As for the overlapping direct and indirect victims between the Ntaganda and Lubanga
cases, the Chamber notes that the final number of beneficiaries found eligible in the Lubanga
767
case amounts to 2,476 direct and indirect victims.
292 The Chamber has taken into account the CLR1 argument that the total number of child
soldiers was likely to exceed the 3,000 estimated Lubanga victims, as it was ‘reasonable to assume’ that additional child soldiers ‘may be willing to come forward and seek reparations’
in the Ntaganda case, particularly from the Hema community, and because additional
768
individuals tend to come forward when they know the potential content of reparations.
However, the Chamber notes that the final deadline for victims to come forward in the Lubanga
769
case was publicly extended in April 2021 to 1 October 2021, after the content of the
770
reparations programme in that case was judicially approved and made public. Similarly, the
fact that the content of the reparations programme in the Ntaganda case is the same as in the
Lubanga case for all the overlapping victims, has been publicly known since the issuance of
771
the Reparations Order in March 2021.
293 Although more than two years have passed, no additional overlapping victims seem to
772
have come forward. In effect, neither the LRVs, nor the TFV, nor the VPRS have provided
766 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , paras 118-128. 767 Twenty-first progress report on the implementation of collective reparations as per Trial Chamber II’s decisions of 21 October 2016 (‘ Lubanga TFV’s Twenty-first Report’), 6 April 2017 and 7 February 2019, 6 June 2023, ICC-01/04-01/06-3919-Conf, para. 10, pending Chamber’s confirmation of 14 applicants positively assessed by the TFV’s Board of Directors. 768 CLR1 December 2020 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2632 , paras 35-36. 769 Trial Chamber II, The Prosecutor v. Thomas Lubanga Dyilo , Decision on the submissions by the Legal Representative of Victims V01 in its Response to the Twelfth Report of the Trust Fund for Victims on the implementation of collective reparations, filing ICC-01/04-01/06-3500-Conf-Exp, 26 March 2021, reclassified as public on 13 April 2021, ICC-01/04-01/06-3508 ; See also , ICC Press Release: 13 April 2021. Lubanga case : Chamber sets new final deadline for victims to request reparations to 1 October 2021 . 770 Trial Chamber II, The Prosecutor v. Thomas Lubanga Dyilo , Décision faisant droit à la requête du Fonds au profit des victimes du 21 septembre 2020 et approuvant la mise en œuvre des réparations collectives prenant la forme de prestations de services, 14 December 2020, public redacted version of 4 March 2021, ICC-01/04-01/06- 3495-Red . 771 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 220. 772 The Chamber notes that in the Updated DIP, the TFV indirectly referred to ‘[m]ore than a thousand additional direct and indirect victims who have not come forward before the [Lubanga] cut-off date, partly due to the security situation, are expected to request access to the Ntaganda reparation programme’, see Updated DIP, ICC-01/04- 02/06-2750-Anx1-Red-Corr , para. 108. However, the Chamber notes that the reference above did not affect the total estimation made by the TFV in the subsequent paragraph of the total of 3,000 direct and indirect victims who would have suffered material, psychological and often physical harm, including the Lubanga victims.
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concrete evidence or information as to the existence of additional victims. Similarly, none of these potential additional victims have requested, at a minimum, to temporarily benefit from the IDIP in the Ntaganda case. In light of this, interpreting this particular uncertainty in favour of the convicted person, the Chamber considers it reasonable to conclude that the likelihood of additional overlapping Lubanga/Ntaganda victims coming forward in the Ntaganda case would only be limited to exceptional cases, if at all. 294. Regarding additional Ntaganda-only victims , i.e., child soldiers victims exceeding the temporal scope of the Lubanga case and their indirect victims, the Chamber notes that no concrete estimate or submissions has been provided by the CLR1 or VPRS. In the DIP, the TFV however submitted that it has yet to see the application of a victim that would fall only within the temporal scope of the Ntaganda case and that it expects their coming forward to 773 likely be exceptional. The Chamber finds merit in the TFV’s assessment on this point and concludes that the likelihood of child soldiers victims exceeding the temporal scope of the Lubanga case and their indirect victims coming forward in the Ntaganda case would only be limited to exceptional cases, if at all. 295. Regarding the SGBV child soldiers victims , the Chamber notes that the CLR1 indicates 774 that they may be particularly reluctant to come forward, but did not advance any concrete estimates or a sufficient methodology that may help the Chamber in determining how many victims belonging to this subset within the child soldiers group may come forward. Similarly, regarding indirect victims of the above, although noting the average children of some of her 775 clients and the average fertility rate in the DRC, the CLR1 did not provide the Chamber with a concrete estimate or sufficient methodology that may help the Chamber determining the number of potential indirect victims of these crimes. In addition to the family of some of the victims, it would have been helpful for the Chamber to be provided with information concerning the victims’ family composition, average number of dependants, or approximate 776 number of family members living within the same household. 296. Considering the lack of further information or estimations and in light of the Appeals Chamber’s findings, 777 the Chamber has relied on the results of the Sample to make projections
773 Updated DIP, ICC-01/04-02/06-2750-Anx1-Red-Corr , paras 100-101. 774 CLR1 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2821 , para. 48. 775 CLR1 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2821 , para. 48. 776 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 145. 777 See, inter alia , Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 346.
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on the estimated number of the currently unknown potential victims for this last subset. The 778 Chamber notes that the results from the Sample indicate, inter alia , that: (i) approximately 18.2% of the total number of victims found eligible (including provisionally eligible), qualify 779 as SGBV victims; and (ii) approximately 20.5% of the total number of victims found eligible 780 (including provisionally eligible), qualify as indirect victims. As found above, (i) the only concrete number of child soldiers victims in the case is the total number of direct and indirect victims found eligible in the Lubanga case (2,476); and (ii) additional direct and indirect overlapping Lubanga/Ntaganda victims and victims exceeding the temporal scope of the Lubanga case who would only be limited to exceptional cases, if at all. Considering these known values and the projections that can be made on the basis of the Sample, the Chamber estimates that (i) the potential additional child soldiers SGBV victims would amount to approximately 451 additional individuals (18.2% of 2,476); and (ii) their indirect victims would amount to approximately 92 additional individuals (20.5% of 451). The total number of child soldier victims in the case can, therefore, be estimated to approximately 3,019 victims. 297. The Chamber notes that the estimation above regarding victims of crimes against child soldiers, closely coincides with the conservative estimate advanced by the TFV in the DIP regarding direct and indirect victims who suffered material, psychological and often physical damage, loss or injury as a result of these crimes. Accordingly, in light of all considerations above and explicitly resolving all uncertainties mentioned in this section in favour of the convicted person, the Chamber estimates that the approximate number of direct and indirect victims of crimes against child soldiers in the case as referred to in Counts 6, 9, 14, 15, and 16 of the Conviction Judgment, i.e., including all overlapping Ntaganda and Lubanga victims and any Ntaganda -only victims, would amount to approximately 3,000 individuals in total. 298. As to the TFV’s additional estimate that at least 6,000 indirect victims would require psychological treatment as a consequence of transgenerational harm, as detailed in section III.B above, the Chamber has clearly indicated that only children of direct victims may qualify as beneficiaries of reparations when claiming to have suffered transgenerational harm. As such,
778 The Chamber notes that it has decided to rely on the results of the full Sample for this calculation, for the sake of consistency. In effect, although the proportion of SGBV victims within the child soldiers’ group in the Sample is higher than in the total Sample, the same subgroup did not include any indirect victims. As such, the Chamber found appropriate to make projections starting from the same basis (the full Sample). 779 See Annex II, p. 3. 780 See Annex II, p. 2. The Chamber notes that the percentage of indirect victims from the total number of victims found eligible in the Lubanga case is approximately 23% which is very close to the results of the Sample.
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these victims would be already included in the previous calculation of the TFV which referred to 3,000 direct and indirect victims of these crimes. Consequently, the Chamber does not consider such estimate to require further consideration. c) Direct and indirect victims of the attacks 299. The Chamber notes that the parties and participants primarily reiterated their previous submission. The Chamber once again finds itself in a situation where no reliable estimates based on a solid methodology was provided regarding the total number of victims belonging to this group. 300. The Chamber notes that the CLR2 mostly reiterates its previous submissions relying on 781 the population size of the affected (13) villages at the times the crimes were committed. On this point, and without attempting to diminish the serious gravity and wide scope of the crimes for which Mr Ntaganda was convicted – which indeed affected thousands of people and entire communities – the Chamber first notes that it was not proven at trial that Mr Ntaganda was liable for crimes committed against the entirety of the 13 communities included in the 782 conviction. As noted above, for the sake of clarity, the Chamber has detailed in Annex I to the present Addendum the crimes and locations for which Mr Ntaganda was specifically convicted in relation to the victims of the attacks. 301. Accordingly, the methodology for calculating the total number of victims of the attacks proposed by the CLR2 cannot be relied upon in relation to all 13 villages included in the conviction, as this would include individuals that cannot be considered victims of the crimes for which Mr Ntaganda was convicted. Notwithstanding the above, the Chamber acknowledges that, as detailed in Annex I, an important part of the population located at the time of the attacks in several villages are to be considered when estimating the total number of potential beneficiaries of reparations. However, this calculation should be made with caution, as the Chamber finds merit in the arguments of the Defence and the TFV that a distinction should be made between official figures and the number of persons not taking a direct part in hostilities 783 likely present at the time of the crimes at the different villages, when many inhabitants had 784 already left and do not appear to necessarily fall within the scope of the conviction.
781 CLR2 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2820 , paras 44-45. 782 See Section II above. 783 Defence January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2823-Red , para. 60. 784 TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , para. 45.
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302 As to the information at the Chamber’s disposal regarding the individuals present at the
time of the attacks in the affected villages, the Chamber has also assessed the CLR2’s
785
submission. However, the Chamber notes that the documents referred to by the CLR2 do not
exactly necessarily indicate that the population of Mongbwalu shrunk. The UN report referred
786
by the CLR2 – which, as noted in the Conviction Judgment and consistently by the Court’s
787
jurisprudence, has a low probative value – does not cite any source or reference to the
affirmation that the population in Mongbwalu amounted to around 80,000 people in 2002. Further, the statistics included in the internet link to the ‘world gazetteer’, apart from not
containing any reference in support to the source of information on the estimate it includes for
the year 2004, does not contain data from previous census for Mongbwalu. As such, based on
these pieces of evidence the Chamber cannot conclude that the population in Mongbwalu
shrunk between 2002 and 2004 or rely on these figures for Mongbwalu to project estimations
as to the total number of beneficiaries of reparations in the case. Similarly, the UN estimate as
788
to the persons displaced in the shika na mukono operation relied by the CLR2 is not
789
supported by any reference to the source of information. In addition, this estimate cannot be
relied upon by the Chamber as Mr Ntaganda was not convicted for the crimes committed within
the context of the entire shika na mukono operation.
303 The CLR2 also makes reference to the estimates provided by the Registry regarding the
790
population at the time of the events in the affected villages. The Chamber notes that in 2020
the Registry submitted information related to the number of potential beneficiaries and
785 CLR2 January 2023 Submission, ICC-01/04-02/06-2820 , para. 45, referring to CLR2 February 2020 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2477-Red-Corr , para. 71, relying on DRC-OTP-0074-0422, S/2004/573 , para. 98; and World Gazetteer, Congo . 786 Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , footnote 132, noting that the probative value of, among others, reports from UN sources, is often too low to serve as the only factual basis for a factual finding and served mainly as corroboration for other credible and reliable evidence. 787 See, inter alia , Trial Chamber II, The Prosecutor v. Germain Katanga , Decision on the Prosecutor’s Bar Table Motions, 12 May 2011, ICC-01/04-01/07-2635 , para. 29, noting that ‘Insofar as [Reports by UN agencies] emanate from independent observers who were direct observers of the facts being reported, the Chamber considers them to be prima facie reliable. However, if the author’s identity and the sources of the information provided are not revealed with sufficient detail, the Chamber is unable to determine whether the contents of the report have been imparted by an eyewitness or some other reliable source. If such particulars are not available, either from the reports themselves or from their author(s), the Chamber cannot assess the reliability of the content of the reports; it is therefore unable to qualify those documents as sufficiently reliable to be admitted into evidence. Moreover, where such reports are based, for the most part, on hearsay information, especially if that information is twice or further removed from its source, the reliability of their content is seriously impugned’. 788 CLR2 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2820 , para. 45. 789 See DRC-OTP-0074-0422, S/2004/573 , para. 70. 790 CLR2 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2820 , para. 45, referring to Annex II – Registry February 2020 Observations, ICC-01/04-02/06-2475-AnxII-Red3 , pp. 12-13.
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estimates of residents in certain locations, which it informed to have obtained in consultations
791 in the field and cross-checked with third parties. The Chamber notes that the Registry
reported that (i) ‘just before the conflict, roughly 8,000 people lived in Kobu’; 792 (ii) regarding
Bambu ‘just before the conflict roughly 5,000 people lived in the area and […] roughly 6,000
793 people in the Yalala groupement suffered from the conflict and remain in the area.’; (iii) as
to Tsili ‘most of those affected by the conflict completed participation forms but that as many
as 300 have not (though this number includes villages no longer within the scope of the
case)’; 794 (iv) as to Lipri ‘many have already completed forms, some did not during the
participation phase out of fear.’; 795 (v) as to Nyangaray ‘35 people were injured and more than
70 were killed during the conflict […] as many as 400 people living in Nyangaray have
completed the form for participation. […] The discrepancy may result from the “in or around”
concept that included neighbouring villages at Trial.’; 796 and (vi) as to Sangi ‘13 were killed
during the conflict and an additional 130 were affected (who still reside in Sangi).’ 797
304 As to the reliability of the above figures, the Chamber notes with surprise that in its
most recent filing the Registry sharply deviates from its prior consistent submissions, indicating
that those estimates were ‘conservative’ and collected in the context of a ‘limited and carefully
targeted approach aimed at identifying individuals […] for whom it could be said with a relative
degree of certainty – still based only on secondary sources consulted – that they suffered harm
as a result of at least one of the crimes subject to conviction’. 798 The Registry notes that the
prior figures related to potential beneficiaries who resided or had returned to the localities but
799 that more than 70% still had not returned. Nevertheless, the Chamber notes that this
affirmation is not supported by any concrete source but only by a vague reference to
‘information collected in the field by Registry staff’. 800 However, when submitting the results
of the preliminary mapping exercise in 2020, the Registry clearly identified the sources of
information for each location. The Chamber notes that the information providers referred to in
the 2020 mapping report do not appear to be only ‘secondary sources’, as they are now referred
791 Annex II – Registry February 2020 Observations, ICC-01/04-02/06-2475-AnxII-Red3 , para. 2. 792 Annex II – Registry February 2020 Observations, ICC-01/04-02/06-2475-AnxII-Red3 , p. 12. 793 Annex II – Registry February 2020 Observations, ICC-01/04-02/06-2475-AnxII-Red3 , p. 13. 794 Annex II – Registry February 2020 Observations, ICC-01/04-02/06-2475-AnxII-Red3 , p. 14. 795 Annex II – Registry February 2020 Observations, ICC-01/04-02/06-2475-AnxII-Red3 , p. 15. 796 Annex II – Registry February 2020 Observations, ICC-01/04-02/06-2475-AnxII-Red3 , p. 16. 797 Annex II – Registry February 2020 Observations, ICC-01/04-02/06-2475-AnxII-Red3 , p. 17. 798 Registry January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2822 , para. 18. 799 Registry January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2822 , para. 19. 800 Registry January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2822 , footnote 22.
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to by the Registry, but individuals who were mostly present during the conflict and had
801 experienced it.
305 As to the latest numbers provided by the Registry regarding the population purportedly
living in the localities before the attacks, the Chamber notes that, when compared to the
information also provided by the Registry as a result of the preliminary mapping exercise in
2020: (i) the sources of information consulted in 2023 seem to be markedly less (only four
individuals, compared to 19 who seem to have been consulted in 2020) and only limited and
802 vague information is provided about them; (ii) the grouping of population made in order to
803 provide estimates in 2023 seem to include villages/locations excluded from the conviction
804 or in relation to which the conviction is limited to specific acts only; (iii) there are
considerable (unexplained) differences regarding the only two locations for which concrete
numbers were provided in 2020. In effect, for Kobu the numbers went up from ‘roughly 8,000 people’ to ‘between 15,000 to 18,000’, with the source of information in 2020 appearing to be
805 more related to the facts than those referred to in 2023. For Bambu the numbers went up from ‘roughly 5,000 people’ to ‘between 12,000 to 13,000’, with the source of information
appearing to have been exactly the same.
306 Further, the Chamber notes that, precisely in response to a request from the CLR2 for
the Registry to obtain further information on the numbers of victims, the Registry affirmed in
November 2020 that (i) in the course of the mapping exercise, it had sought to obtain
approximate figures and basic information regarding the pre-war population in the case
locations, as well as the linkage between relevant individuals and groups of crimes for which
801 Annex II – Registry February 2020 Observations, ICC-01/04-02/06-2475-AnxII-Red3 , inter alia , pp. 12, 15, 17, 18, 19. 802 See ICC-01/04-02/06-2822-Conf-Anx, [REDACTED], see Annex II – Registry February 2020 Observations, ICC-01/04-02/06-2475-AnxII-Red3 , pp. 6, 11. 803 See, for example , Nzebi, included by the Registry in the numbers for the population of the Collectivity of Bayalo-Kilo, Annex – Registry January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2822-Anx-Red , p. 2, but for which negative findings were made in the Conviction in relation to murder, forcible transfer of population and ordering the displacement of civilians, Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , paras 887, 1049, 1078. Similarly, Ngongo, included by the Registry in the calculation of population in Lipri, Annex – Registry January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2822-Anx-Red , p. 3, but for which negative findings were made for murder and persecution, Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , paras 871, 989. For more examples, see Annex II. 804 See , for example, Nyangaray, included in the total counting of population by the Registry, Annex – Registry January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2822-Anx-Red , p. 3, but for which negative findings were made in relation to intentionally attacking civilians, forcible transfer and ordering the displacement of the civilian population and destroying the adversary’s property and for which positive findings were made in the conviction for persecution only with a very specific underlying act, Conviction Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2359 , paras 640, 905, 1000, 1008, 1055, 1068, 1078, 1155,. For more examples, see Annex II. 805 ICC-01/04-02/06-2822-Conf-Anx, [REDACTED], see Annex II – Registry February 2020 Observations, ICC- 01/04-02/06-2475-AnxII-Red3 , pp. 11-12.
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Mr Ntaganda was convicted; (ii) it consulted authorities during the exercise, who ‘ were not in a position to link any more individuals to the crimes for which Mr Ntaganda was convicted ’;
and (iii) although more applicants may come forward later ‘ it [did] not anticipate the number
806
to be exponentially higher than the one established thus far during the mapping exercise’.
307 Accordingly, in light of these uncertainties, the Chamber is unable to rely on the recent
numbers provided by the Registry to project estimations as to the total number of beneficiaries of reparations in the case. Similarly, the Chamber cannot agree with the CLR2’s submission
that that the total number of potential beneficiaries should be roughly estimated by the Chamber as at least 100,000 people ‘based on the evidence available on the record’,
807
since, as detailed
808
above, the evidence on the record does not support such a conclusion. However, as will be
discussed in more detail below, the Chamber will take into consideration the Registry’s
observation that its previous estimations only included potential beneficiaries who resided in
809
or had returned to the relevant localities.
308 The Chamber did not find feasible the Defence’s suggestion that the appropriate way
forward would have been for the VPRS to conduct a detailed mapping exercise, to identify new
810
potential beneficiaries and collect new application forms. As noted by the Defence itself on
811
several occasions, and as publicly known, the current security situation in the DRC, and
812
particularly in Ituri, is extremely volatile and unpredictable. Accordingly, when considering
806 Registry’s Observations on the “Request of the Common Legal Representatives of the Victims of the Attacks for an Order to the Registry to collect information pertaining to reparations” of 9 November 2020, ICC-01/04- 02/06-2624 (‘Registry November 2020 Submissions’), 18 November 2020, ICC-01/04-02/06-2627 , para. 18. 807 CLR2 January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2820 , para. 46. 808 The Chamber notes that it has analysed a number of documents that are part of the evidence of the case, see inter alia , United Nations, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Integrated Regional Information Network, 18 December 2002, DRC: Special report on Ituri District, north-eastern DRC (DRC-OTP-0100-0278), United Nations, August 2010, REPUBLIQUE DEMOCRATIQUE DU CONGO, 1993-2003 Rapport du Projet Mapping concernant les violations les plus graves des droits de l’homme et du droit international humanitaire commises entre mars 1993 et juin 2003 sur le territoire de la République démocratique du Congo (DRC-OTP- 1061-0212), Amnesty International Report, March 2003, Democratic Republic of Congo On the precipice: the deepening human rights and humanitarian crisis in Ituri (DRC-OTP-0154-1301), Amnesty International Report, 21 October 2003, Democratic Republic of Congo Ituri: a need for protection, a thirst for justice (DRC-OTP-0019- 0153), , searching for additional information on concrete numbers, but has assessed the information as being too general in nature, and therefore, not reliable Forfor the purposes of determining the number of victims of the crimes for which Mr Ntaganda was convicted. The Chamber notes that it has not been made aware of any other information or document which provides more authoritative figures on the concrete number of potentially eligible victims of the attacks. 809 Registry January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2822 , para. 19. 810 Defence January 2023 Submission, ICC-01/04-02/06-2823-Conf, paras 59-60. 811 For the most recent submission on the issue, see Defence observations on the Trust Fund for Victims’ Eleventh Update Report on the Implementation of the Initial Draft Implementation Plan, 12 June 2023, ICC-01/04-02/06- 2855-Conf, paras 6-10 and Annex A, ICC-01/04-02/06-2855-AnxA . 812 See, inter alia, TFV’s Eleventh Report, ICC-01/04-02/06-2854-Red , para. 11.
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its approach to the implementation of the Appeals Judgment, taking into account the security situation and that the Court as a whole is currently operating at a heavily reduced capacity on 813 the field in the DRC, the Chamber concluded that the conditions did not allow for a mapping exercise to be carried out in a safe and expeditious manner. 309. In addition, as noted in the October 2022 Order, the Chamber considers it key that the issues on remand in the Appeals Judgment shall are implemented in a way that ensures compliance with the principles of reparations upheld in the case, avoids re-victimisation, and 814 in the most expeditious manner possible. The Chamber particularly takes into account ‘the context of these reparations proceedings, which are taking place nearly two decades after the commission of the crimes of which Mr Ntaganda has been convicted […] the need to repair the harm suffered by the victims of these crimes as expeditiously as possible is a relevant consideration’. 815 Lastly, taking into account that in this case collective reparations have been granted, in exercising its discretion, the Chamber reiterates that it found it unwarranted to collect application forms from potential beneficiaries of reparations before deciding on the 816 award, as suggested by the Defence. 310. Having discounted the possibility of relying on the most recent estimates provided by the parties and the Registry, the Chamber will now assess the calculations provided by the TFV in light of the rest of the evidence and information available in the case file. The Chamber recalls that the TFV specified that its calculations were not exact estimations, qualifying them as an ‘educated guess’. 817 However, the Chamber notes that the TFV projected them considering the need to work with concrete numbers for the DIP’s purposes, and elaborated the plan taking into account the information obtained during its consultations with various sources 818 and stakeholders, the scope of the conviction, and applying a very conservative approach. Within this context, the TFV projected that, at the very least, about 7,500 direct and indirect victims of the attacks would qualify as beneficiaries who have suffered certain forms of
813 See, inter alia, International Criminal Court, Assembly of States Parties, Report on the Activities of the International Criminal Court, 20 October 2022, ICC-ASP/21/9 , paras 55-56, 58, noting, inter alia , that the Country Office in Kinshasa closed its physical premises in 2021 and only one staff member remained on the ground to conduct residual outreach function and serve as a liaison with the Government, that outreach activities were reduced due, among others, the ongoing conflict in Ituri and that missions to meet victims identified by intermediaries could not take place due to lack of financial resources. 814 October 2022 Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2786 , paras 3, 7, 15, 18, 25, and 33. 815 Decision on suspensive effect, ICC-01/04-02/06-2691 , para. 25. 816 See Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 336. 817 TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , para. 44 [emphasis added]. 818 Updated DIP, ICC-01/04-02/06-2750-Anx1-Red-Corr , paras 92-93.
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819 material, psychological and possibly physical harm. Further, the TFV estimated that an important number of indirect victims, likely going beyond 14,000 individuals, would have 820 suffered primarily from psychological harm. Lastly, the TFV noted that it was capable of accommodating these numbers within the amount of liability set by the Chamber and provide them with services that are equal to those that former child soldiers may receive through the 821 Lubanga reparation programme. 311. Although the TFV was cautious in noting that the calculations were imprecise, recalling all the uncertainties noted above, the Chamber finds merit in the TFV’s projection that approximately 7,500 direct and indirect victims of the attacks may qualify as beneficiaries having suffered material, psychological and possibly physical harm. The Chamber notes that, in reaching the above conclusion, it has taken into account the parties’ submissions as to the DIP. The Chamber notes that the Defence submitted that the proposed figure of 21,500 victims of the attacks ‘is not only unsupported and speculative [but] completely detached from reality’, as the currently available figures would point at a very limited number of victims of the attacks ‘which does not go beyond the number of 2,500’. 822 As to these arguments, the Chamber notes that (i) it is not relying on the full 21,500 potential victims of the attacks projected by the TFV, but only on the projection of 7,500 direct and indirect victims that would have suffered psychological, physical and material harm; and (ii) as will be discussed below, contrary to the Defence’s submission, the evidence in the case record points to more than 2,500 victims of the attacks having already been identified/mapped in the course of the proceedings. 312. The Chamber also notes the submissions of the CLR2, who takes issue with the TFV’s ‘very conservative approach’ arguing that the TFV solely refers to ‘meetings and consultations’ 823 held when projecting numbers but ‘provides no basis or identifiable source’. The Chamber notes the CLR2 submission that the TFV did not provide a list of identifiable sources and only referred to having held meetings and consultations which, together with other information, informed its calculations. Although agreeing with the CLR2 that it would have been better for
819 Updated DIP, ICC-01/04-02/06-2750-Anx1-Red-Corr , para. 93. The above included: (i) direct victims of all crimes; (ii) close family members of victims of murder and rape or sexual slavery; (iii) indirect victims of all crimes insofar as they attempted to prevent the commission of one or more of the crimes under consideration or intervened on behalf of direct victims and who were ‘further harmed as a result of the relevant crime’. 820 Updated DIP, ICC-01/04-02/06-2750-Anx1-Red-Corr , para. 94, referring to indirect victims who had suffered harm for what they witnessed during and after the attacks and persons who suffered transgenerational harm. 821 Updated DIP, ICC-01/04-02/06-2750-Anx1-Red-Corr , para. 96. 822 Defence Observations on Updated DIP, ICC-01/04-02/06-2765-Red , para. 53. 823 CLR2 Observations on Updated DIP, ICC-01/04-02/06-2764-Conf, para. 17.
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the TFV to provide additional information as to the sources it consulted, the Chamber notes that the TFV held consultations and meetings with different individuals, which served to inform its projections as to the number of victims. Further, the Chamber took into account that the TFV itself acknowledged that its projections were not objective estimates but simple calculations. Accordingly, while not being submitted as ‘objective estimate’, the Chamber is satisfied that the basis provided by the TFV is sufficient for the Chamber’s assessment of such calculations. 313. The CLR2 expressed ‘great concern’ that the TFV’s approach does not provide estimates for the numbers of victims but a calculation of what the TFV would be capable of accommodating within the amount of liability set by the Chamber, noting that when providing 824 reparations the TFV has no discretion to restrict reparations to available resources. To a certain extent, the Chamber understands and shares the CLR2’s concern as to the possible overlapping in the TFV’s understanding of its role. As a general rule, the CLR2 is correct when indicating that the TFV does not have discretion to limit reparations to available resources. However, although not at the discretion of the TFV, it is indeed for the Chamber to determine the total amount that it considers fair and appropriate to repair the harm caused to the victims of the crimes for which Mr Ntaganda has been convicted. Within the amount set by the Chamber, reparations may be provided to all beneficiaries found eligible to benefit from them, for as long as they have come forward voluntarily during the timeline to be set by the Chamber for such purposes. 314. However, it should be stressed that this would only be true for as long as the convicted person complies with its obligation and pays the award or the TFV is able to complement it in full. Accordingly, although the amount of liability set by the Chamber is indeed the maximum limit of resources that can be used for the purposes of repairing the harm caused to the victims of the crimes for which Mr Ntaganda was convicted, neither the estimations as to the number of victims provided by the Chamber in the present decision is a limit as to the maximum number of individuals that may come forward and be able to benefit from the award, nor is the TFV 825 obliged to fully complement the award. The ultimate responsible to pay is and continues to be the convicted person. As such, the Chamber finds appropriate for the TFV to have made a projection as to the number of victims that could benefit from reparations within the amount of
824 CLR2 Observations on Updated DIP, ICC-01/04-02/06-2764-Conf, paras 18-20. 825 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 257.
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liability set by the Chamber. This is so, particularly considering that the calculation was not only made taking into account the amount of liability set by the Chamber, but also the information collected in consultations with different stakeholders as to the number of potential beneficiaries within the terms of the conviction. 315. Lastly, the CLR2 submits that the TFV cannot reasonably justify being in no position to provide an estimate as this ‘can and should be obtained by the TFV as part of a mapping exercise in the framework of an outreach campaign’. 826 The Chamber recalls that, as noted above when addressing a similar suggestion by the Defence, this argument is currently untenable. In effect, in light of the security situation and the overriding need to commence providing reparations as expeditiously as possible, no mapping exercise can or shall be done at this stage. This, particularly considering that the victims have waited more than 20 years for 827 justice and reparations, and, as explained by the CLR2 himself, ‘the ongoing unstable security situation in Ituri and the current significant displacement of the population’ 828 demands that the Chamber acts promptly. As such, in view of the particular circumstances of the case, the Chamber considers that the outreach campaign and victims’ location and identification shall be conducted in parallel with the commencement of the process of implementation of reparations. 316. In assessing the reliability of the projections made by the TFV, the Chamber also considered the Registry’s work during the preliminary mapping exercise and the estimations provided by the Appointed Experts. As to the Registry’s estimations, the Chamber notes that the results of the consultations conducted during the preliminary mapping led the Registry to consistently indicate that ‘at least’ approximately 1,100 individuals would qualify as new potential victims of the attacks (in addition to the eligible participating victims of the attacks, 829 which the Registry estimated in approximately 1,176) and that it was not to be anticipated
826 CLR2 Observations on Updated DIP, ICC-01/04-02/06-2764-Conf, para. 21. 827 Decision on suspensive effect, ICC-01/04-02/06-2691 , para. 25. See also Public Redacted Version of the “Observations of the Common Legal Representative of the Victims of the Attacks on the Trust Fund for Victims’ Draft Initial Implementation Plan” (ICC-01/04-02/06-2680-Conf), 28 June 2021, ICC-01/04-02/06-2680-Red , para. 57; Response of the Common Legal Representative of the Former Child Soldiers to the TFV Initial Draft Implementation Plan with focus on Priority Victims, 23 June 2021, ICC-01/04-02/06-2681 , para. 2. 828 CLR2 March 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2836 , para. 26. 829 Public Redacted Version of Annex I (ICC-01/04-02/06-2639-Conf-AnxI) notified on 15 January 2021 Registry Second Report on Reparations (Registry’s Second Mapping Report’), 10 February 2021, ICC-01/04-02/06-2639- AnxI-Red , para. 9.
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830 that the final number would be exponentially higher. Similarly, the Chamber notes that the
Appointed Experts estimated that, at least, 3,500 direct victims of the attacks were potentially
eligible for reparations, while the number of indirect victims could not be ascertained by
831 832 them. Having also assessed the parties submissions related to these estimates, the
833 834 Chamber is satisfied that both the Registry in 2020 and the Appointed Experts held
consultations with different stakeholders in order to inform their views. As such, the Chamber
is satisfied that both estimations, in the Registry’s preliminary mapping exercise and by the
Appointed Experts, as reflected in their reports, lend sufficient basis for the Chamber to rely
on these estimates in order to conclude that, at the very least, a minimum of 3,500 direct victims
of the attacks will qualify as potential beneficiaries of reparations in the present case.
317 Considering that the estimate above is indeed a minimum, the Chamber has also taken
into account the Registry’s recent submission that the identification and tracking of potential
beneficiaries during the preliminary mapping exercise was particularly challenging, due to the
population displacements, and that more than 70% of the pre-conflict population has still not
835 returned to their localities of origin. The Chamber has assessed this submission in order to
consider the different possible estimates and calculations. The Chamber understands the
current argument from the Registry to imply that the estimations provided as a result of the
preliminary mapping exercise would have corresponded to approximately 30% of the total
number of potential victims of the attacks, and thus, approximately a 70% extra needs to be
added in order to obtain the final number of potential victims of the attacks. this lead the
Chamber to consider the number of potential new victims of the attacks advanced by the
830 Annex I – Registry February 2020 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2475-AnxI , para. 25; Annex II – Registry February 2020 Observations, ICC-01/04-02/06-2475-AnxII-Red3 ; Registry November 2020 Submissions, ICC- 01/04-02/06-2627 , paras 17-18; Public Redacted Version of Annex I (ICC-01/04-02/06-2639-Conf-AnxI) notified on 15 January 2021 Registry Second Report on Reparations, 10 February 2021, ICC-01/04-02/06-2639-AnxI- Red , para. 39. 831 First Experts Report, ICC-01/04-02/06-2623-Anx1-Red4 , paras 29, 283, p. 107. 832 CLR1 December 2020 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2632 , paras 35-37; CLR2 Appeal Brief, ICC-01/04- 02/06-2674 , para. 53; Defence Appellant Brief against the 8 March Reparations Order, 07 June 2021 , ICC-01/04- 02/06-2675 , paras 230-231. 833 As detailed in Annex II – Registry February 2020 Observations (confidential redacted version), ICC-01/04- 02/06-2475-Conf-AnxII-Red2. 834 See First Experts Report, ICC-01/04-02/06-2623-Anx1-Red4 , paras 9-11, containing the details of the methodology employed by the experts when informing their views contained in the report, which includes not only the case file but also the information obtained from meetings with victims and other stakeholders (conducted remotely using digital communication tools in light of restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the security situation in Ituri), a roundtable with a number of NGOs active in Ituri who have experience working with victims of the conflict there, including with victims of Mr. Ntaganda and desk research of relevant literature on key issues relevant for the report. 835 Registry January 2023 Submission, ICC-01/04-02/06-2822 , para. 19.
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Registry within the context of the preliminary mapping (1,100) which added to the number of participating victims of the attacks that the Registry estimated as remaining within the scope of the conviction (1,176), provides the result that the Registry now appears to indicate that would have corresponded to approximately 30% of the potential victims of the attacks: 2,276 individuals. From that number the Chamber can now calculate that the 70% purportedly remaining would amount to approximately 5,311 individuals, with the total number of potential direct and indirect victims of the attacks, following this reasoning, amounting to 7,587 individuals. 318. The Chamber notes that the calculation above regarding victims of the attacks, once again closely coincides with the conservative estimate advanced by the TFV in the DIP of approximately 7,500 direct and indirect victims who suffered material, psychological and possibly physical damage, loss or injury as a result of these crimes. Accordingly, in light of all considerations above and having explicitly resolved all uncertainties mentioned in this section in favour of the convicted person, the Chamber estimates that the approximate number of direct and indirect victims of the attacks in the case as referred to in Counts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 17, and 18 of the Conviction Judgment, would amount to approximately 7,500 individuals in total. 319. As noted in relation to child soldiers, the Chamber will not consider any further the TFV’s estimation at least 14,000 indirect victims who would have suffered primarily psychological harm would qualify as victims having suffered transgenerational harm. 3. Conclusions as to the number of potentially eligible victims 320. In light of the above, based on the evidence and submissions above detailed, and explicitly resolving all uncertainties mentioned in this section in favour of the convicted person, the Chamber concludes that the approximate number of direct and indirect (i) victims of crimes against child soldiers in the case, as referred to in Counts 6, 9, 14, 15, and 16 of the Conviction Judgment, would amount to approximately 3,000 individuals in total; and (ii) victims of the attacks in the case, as referred to in Counts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 17, and 18 of the Conviction Judgment, would amount to approximately 7,500 individuals in total.
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F. Calculation of the monetary award against Mr Ntaganda
1 Previous findings and submissions
a) Reparations Order
321 When determining Mr Ntaganda’s financial liability in the Reparations Order, the
Chamber indicated that, to reach conclusions as to the scope and extent of the damage, it needed
836 to establish the types and categories of harm caused by the crimes, and define the appropriate
837 modalities of reparations. The Chamber further stressed that, rather than attempting to determine the ‘sum total’ of the harm, the exercise should focus on the cost to repair it, with
the goal of setting an amount that is fair and properly reflects the rights of the victims and those
838 of the convicted person. When the information available does not allow it to set the amount
with precision, the Chamber recalled, it may, with caution, rely on estimates, weighing the need
839 for accuracy against the goal of awarding reparations without delay. Even when awarding
collective reparations, the Chamber noted, the number of potentially eligible beneficiaries is
an important parameter for determining the scope of the convicted person’s liability. 840
Although relevant, the Chamber considered that the number of potential beneficiaries was not
841 a precondition to the issuance of the reparations order. When there is uncertainty as to the
number of victims, the Chamber recalled, a collective approach should ensure that reparations
842 reach unidentified victims.
322 Regarding the number of victims potentially eligible for reparations, having assessed
the different estimations provided throughout the proceedings, and being aware that thousands
of victims may be eligible, the Chamber concluded that it was impossible to predict in advance
836 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 227, relying on Appeals Chamber, The Prosecutor v. Germain Katanga , Judgment on the appeals against the order of Trial Chamber II of 24 March 2017 entitled ‘Order for Reparations pursuant to Article 75 of the Statute’ (‘ Katanga Judgment on Reparations Order’), 8 March 2018, ICC-01/04-01/07-3778-Red, para. 70. 837 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 227, relying on Lubanga Judgment on Principles, ICC-01/04- 01/06-3129 , para. 200. 838 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 228, relying on Katanga Judgment on Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-01/07-3778-Red, para. 72 and Lubanga Judgment on Size of Reparations Award, ICC-01/04-01/06- 3466-Red , paras 107-108. 839 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 228, relying on Lubanga Judgment on Size of Reparations Award, ICC-01/04-01/06-3466-Red , para. 108. 840 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , paras 229-230, referring to Lubanga Judgment on Size of Reparations Award, ICC-01/04-01/06-3466-Red , paras 89, 224. 841 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 231. 842 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 231, referring to Trial Chamber I, The Prosecutor v. Thomas Lubanga Dyilo , Decision establishing the principles and procedures to be applied to reparations, 7 August 2012, ICC-01/04-01/06-2904 , para . 219 and Lubanga Judgment on Size of Reparations Award, ICC-01/04-01/06-3466- Red , para. 90.
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how many victims may ultimately come forward to benefit from reparations in the case, particularly considering the widespread, systematic, and large-scale nature of the crimes for 843 which Mr Ntaganda was convicted. 323. As to the costs to repair the harm caused to the victims, the Chamber considered the preliminary estimates and indicative figures of collective projects provided by the TFV, the submissions of the Appointed Experts, and the calculations reached in the Lubanga and the 844 Katanga cases. The Chamber further noted that the victims suffered different kinds of harm and, in the context of collective reparations with individualised components, the cost to repair the harm for each victim may substantially differ from one to another. In light of this, the Chamber decided to set the total reparations award for which Mr Ntaganda is liable to USD 30,000,000. The Chamber considered this amount to be fair and appropriate, in light of the circumstances of the case and bearing in mind the rights of the convicted person. Having reached its conclusions on the basis of all information before it, relied on conservative estimates, and weighed the need for accuracy against the goal of awarding reparations without 845 delay. 324. As to the shared liability of Mr Ntaganda and his co-perpetrators, including Mr Lubanga, the Chamber stressed that they are all jointly and severally liable in solidum to repair the full extent of the harm caused to the victims and remain liable to reimburse the funds that 846 the TFV may eventually use to complement the reparation awards for their shared victims. b) Appeals Judgement 325. The Appeals Chamber determined that setting the amount of the award without reference to any concrete estimate of the number of victims whose harm it was intended to repair was an error, which, in the view of the Appeals Chamber, made it impossible to know whether it will be adequate to repair the harm of the victims affected by the crimes and fair for 847 Mr Ntaganda in respect of his total liability. The Appeals Chamber also found that the Chamber erred by failing to address the Defence’s submission on the matter, 848 and by not providing any specific information, calculation or other reasoning as to how it reached the
843 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , paras 232-235, 245-246. 844 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , paras 236-244. 845 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 247. 846 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , paras 219-221. 847 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 235. 848 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , paras 240-241.
No. ICC-01/04-02/06 140/156 14 July 2023
amount of 30 million USD, finding merits in the parties’ arguments that the reasoning to set 849 the reparations award was not clear. Referring to the figures set out in the Reparations Order, the Appeals Chamber concluded that it was neither discernible how the Chamber arrived at the amount of 30 million USD nor how it was intended to apportion that amount between the 850 different groups of victims. 326. The Appeals Chamber further found that the Chamber should have elaborated upon why it considered the award to be ‘fair’, in what way it was ‘appropriate’, how it took ‘a conservative approach’, and what ‘uncertainties’ were resolved in favour of Mr Ntaganda. 851 Lastly, the Appeals Chamber found that it was not clear whether the Chamber intended to set 852 the award on an ex aequo et bono basis and the reasons for reaching such decision. Accordingly, the part of the Reparations Order setting the amount of the award was therefore reversed by the Appeals Chamber and remanded to the Chamber to assess and explain fully what the appropriate award for reparations should be in the present case, taking into account 853 all known circumstances at the date of that assessment. c) Implementing order 327. In light of the findings in the Appeals Judgment, recalling the direct relationship between the Lubanga and the Ntaganda cases and that after the issuance of the Reparations Order the implementation of the reparations programme in the Lubanga case commenced, in the October 2022 Order the Chamber instructed the TFV to provide updated information as to 854 the actual costs of running the rehabilitation programmes approved in the Lubanga case. In particular, the Chamber requested information regarding the number of victims that can be included in the programmes, the types of services that the different categories of victims require, the overall costs per year, and any other information relevant for the estimation of the 855 monetary award in the case.
849 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 243. 850 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , paras 248-256. 851 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , paras 257-260. 852 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , paras 261-264. 853 Appeals Judgment, ICC-01/04-02/06-2782 , para. 265. 854 October 2022 Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2786 , para. 38. 855 October 2022 Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2786 , para. 38.
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d) TFV observations 328. In line with the Chamber’s instructions, the TFV submitted updated information as to 856 the actual costs of running the rehabilitation programmes approved in the Lubanga case. The TFV indicates that, in March 2021, it concluded the contracting process for a five-year reparation programme with one implementing partner, which sub-contracts other organisations 857 active in the region to provide collective service-based reparations to the Lubanga victims. According to the TFV, this reparation programme – active in five territories within Ituri – aims to ensure that the various kinds of harm suffered by the victims are addressed at an individual level, by providing, physical and psychological rehabilitation and various form of socioeconomic measures, such as vocational training, assistance with income generating activities, 858 and the payment of school fees and pensions. 329. Further, the TFV explains that in the Lubanga case the intake process commences, once a beneficiary is referred to the implementing partner, with an initial in-depth individualised needs assessment in terms of rehabilitation, followed by tailored psychological or physical 859 treatment. During treatment, beneficiaries may receive financial support to compensate transportation costs and loss of earnings; activities are organised close to the victims’ locations, 860 but more complicated treatment may require transfers to other facilities. In such cases treatment limits the beneficiaries’ ability to care for themselves, transfers to suitable care facilities are arranged and, in parallel, education support for beneficiaries and their dependents 861 is provided. Once beneficiaries are considered physically and mentally fit, they may begin access to socio-economic activities, which start with a lump sum allowing them to have the 862 necessary financial support to attend vocational training and literacy courses, if needed. After training, beneficiaries are guided to set a business plan for their income generating activities, they receive a kit and a cash grant for the first year of implementation, which is the 863 same for all beneficiaries. Lastly, the TFV informs that advice, support, and monitoring of 864 the effectiveness of the rehabilitation measures continues for the duration of the programme.
856 TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , paras 9-24. 857 TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , para. 10. 858 TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , para. 10. 859 TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , para. 11. 860 TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , para. 11. 861 TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , para. 11. 862 TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , para. 12. 863 TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , para. 12. 864 TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , para. 12.
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330 Before outlining the details of the costs for the services abovementioned, the TFV underlines that certain parameters should be taken into account when assessing the costs of the 865 Lubanga rehabilitation programme in the context of the Ntaganda reparations. 331. First, the TFV stresses that ‘programmes are not designed per capita ’, thus it does not 866 simply suffice to take the numbers provided and multiply them by any number of victims. The TFV underlines that the cost of programmes are not based on per head costs and, in their experience, a high number of beneficiaries may lower the per capita costs with regard to 867 general expenses. Second, the TFV underlines that the numbers provided are based on the first year of implementation, which is generally more expensive in direct and indirect costs, due to the programme’s launching and readjustments, and should not apply to Ntaganda 868 beneficiaries if they are included in the Lubanga programme early enough. The TFV further explains that there is now a much higher level of experience in the DRC regarding the implementation of reparations programmes, which will greatly contribute to the budgetary 869 efficiencies of any new programme. 332. Third, the TFV notes that the Lubanga programme addresses, in its vast majority, direct victims who are not of the same family, reducing the possibility to reduce costs for certain 870 types of services. This will be different in the present case, particularly in relation to victims of the attacks, where the family dimension will need to be taken into account and mutualising socio-economic and psychological support could affect the per capita cost of rehabilitation 871 programmes. Fourth, the TFV recalls that in the Lubanga case almost all of the victims have cumulatively suffered physical, psychological and socio-economic harm, which most likely will not be the case for all victims of the Ntaganda case, thus the cost per capita could also be 872 lower. Fifth, and last, the TFV indicates that the extent of victims who suffered serious physical and psychological harm, for which expensive care outside Bunia is required, cannot 873 be projected, thus this impact on the per capita cost remains unpredictable at this stage.
865 TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , para. 14. 866 TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , para. 15 [emphasis added]. 867 TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , para. 15 [emphasis added]. 868 TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , para. 16. 869 TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , para. 16. 870 TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , para. 17. 871 TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , para. 17. 872 TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , para. 18. 873 TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , para. 19.
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333 Having clarified the above, the TFV informs that, for year one of implementation of the
Lubanga rehabilitation programme, the average cost per capita is USD 3,229, direct and
874
indirect costs included. Based on projections made by the TFV, the average costs per capita
for a full rehabilitation in the Lubanga case is USD 4,000.61 USD, direct and indirect costs
875
included.
334 In the interest of clarity regarding the direct costs of services, the TFV provides an
overview regarding mental and physical health support, that the Chamber has summarised in
876
the table below:
TYPE MENTAL HEALTH PHYSICAL HEALTH AND Average cost per % of victims that Average cost per % of victims that LEVEL OF CARE capita in USD require each level capita in USD require each level of care of care PRIMARY $388.64 100% $241.09 41.77% SECONDARY $658.69 26.47% $315.15 32.36% SPECIALISED $1,541.33 1.33% $3.128.88 3.83%
335 Lastly, regarding the costs of socio-economic support, the TFV details that, excluding
indirect costs, the costs per capita are as follows: (i) schooling USD 200 per year; (ii) university
scholarship USD 400; (iii) vocational training USD 460 on average; and (iv) income generating
877
activities USD 875.
2 Chamber determination
336 At the outset, the Chamber notes that, throughout the reparations proceedings, the
parties, the participants, and Appointed Experts have made extensive submissions as to the
scope of Mr Ntaganda liability for reparations, which the Chamber has thoroughly and
878
carefully considered. In light of the findings and submissions referred to above, the Chamber
874 TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , para. 20. 875 TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , para. 20. 876 TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , paras 21-23. The Chamber notes that, according to the information provided by the TFV, these amounts exclude indirect costs. 877 TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , para. 24. 878 See, inter alia, Submissions on Reparations on behalf of the Former Child Soldiers (with public Annex) (‘CLR1 February 2020 Submissions’), 28 February 2020, ICC-01/04-02/06-2474 , paras 52-64; Trust Fund for Victims’ observations relevant to reparations (‘TFV February 2020 Submissions’), 28 February 2020 ICC-01/04-02/06- 2476 , paras 129-136; CLR2 February 2020 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2477-Red-Corr , paras 68-87; Prosecution’s Observations on Reparations (with public Annex A), 28 February 2020, ICC-01/04-02/06-2478 ,
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hereafter provides its reasoned conclusions as to the following aspects relevant to the calculation of the monetary award for which Mr Ntaganda is liable: (i) amount required to repair the overlapping victims and harms between the Ntaganda and the Lubanga cases; (ii) amount required to repair the additional Ntaganda only victims of crimes against child soldiers; (iii) amount required to repair the harms caused to the victims of the attacks; and (iv) amount required to repair the harm caused as a consequence of the attack to the Sayo health centre. a) Amount required to repair the overlapping victims and harms between the Ntaganda and the Lubanga cases 337. As noted in the Reparations Order, Mr Ntaganda and Mr Lubanga are jointly and severally liable in solidum to repair the full extent of the harm caused to the victims of the 879 crimes for which they were both convicted. Consequently, both individuals are liable for the full amount of reparations owed to the victims of the crimes for which they were convicted. Only in the event that one of them pays or reimburse to the TFV the amount required to provide reparations to their overlapping victims, in full or in part, does the issue of recovering from the other co-perpetrator(s) their proportional share arise. Therefore, this is an issue to be dealt with by the co-perpetrators among themselves and does not impact on the liability to be imposed by the Court. 338. The Chamber notes that Mr Lubanga’s total financial liability for reparations was set at 880 USD 10,000,000. The Chamber also recalls that the final number of beneficiaries found 881 eligible in the Lubanga case amounted to 2,476 direct and indirect victims. The TFV has projected that the average costs per capita for a full rehabilitation in the Lubanga case would 882 be approximately USD 4,000.61 USD, direct and indirect costs included. Taking the TFV latest projections into account, the Chamber notes that the full rehabilitation of all victims found eligible in the Lubanga case would amount to approximately USD 9,905,510.36.
paras 17-21; Defence submissions on reparations (‘Defence February 2020 Submissions’), 28 February 2020, ICC-01/04-02/06-2479-Conf (reclassified as confidential on 6 March 2020, public redacted version of the same date) ICC-01/04-02/06-2479-Red , paras 62-66; First Experts Report, ICC-01/04-02/06-2623-Anx1-Red4 , paras 175-184, 206, 220-226, 251-253; Second Expert Report, ICC-01/04-02/06-2623-Anx2-Red4 , paras 64-175; CLR1 December 2020 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2632 , paras 18-29; CLR2 December 2020 Submissions, ICC- 01/04-02/06-2633-Red , paras 54-55, 62, 95, 118; Defence December 2020 Submissions ICC-01/04-02/06-2634- Red , paras 108-109, 130-131, 152-154; Trust Fund for Victims’ Final Observations on the reparations proceedings (‘TFV December 2020 Submissions’), 21 December 2020, ICC-01/04-02/06-2635-Red , paras 47-48, 56-70. 879 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , paras 219-221. 880 Lubanga Decision on the Size of Reparations Award, ICC-01/04-01/06-3379-Red-Corr-tENG , paras 279-281. 881 Lubanga TFV’s Twenty-first Report, ICC-01/04-01/06-3919-Conf, para. 10, pending Chamber’s confirmation. 882 TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , para. 20.
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339 The Chamber notes that the above projection was made by the TFV during the second year of implementation of the collective service-based reparations programme in the Lubanga 883 case, which is planned to last for five years. The Chamber also notes that, to date, only 872 victims are in the process of receiving reparation services in the Lubanga case, as opposed to 884 the totality of the victims found entitled to benefit from reparations in the case. As such, the average per capita calculated by TFV may not account for the possible impact of the unpredictable possibility that an important number of victims may end up requiring expensive 885 mental or physical health support outside Bunia. At the same time, the Chamber notes that the average amount calculated by the TFV is made on the basis of the costs as calculated and 886 projected during the first year of implementation. Thus, the calculated average may also not account for the possible impact of inflation or the financial impact that the continuous deterioration of the security situation in the region may have on the implementation of the service-based programme. In addition, the Chamber considers that although it has found that the likelihood of additional overlapping victims between the two cases coming forward in the Ntaganda case only would be limited to exceptional cases, some limited funds should still be reserved to provide for such event. The Chamber is therefore satisfied that setting the amount of liability of Mr Ntaganda regarding the overlapping victims and harms with the Lubanga case at the same amount of USD 10,000,000 set for Mr Lubanga, is fair, equitable, and appropriate and takes into account the rights of the victims and those of the convicted person. b) Amount required to repair the additional Ntaganda only victims of crimes against child soldiers 340. As to the additional Ntaganda only victims of crimes against child soldiers – i.e., child soldiers victims exceeding the temporal scope of the Lubanga case, former child soldiers who are also victims of rape and sexual slavery and children born out of these crimes, as well as the indirect victims of all of them – the Chamber recalls that it has concluded above that the approximate number of direct and indirect victims of crimes against child soldiers in the case, including all overlapping Ntaganda and Lubanga victims and any Ntaganda -only victims, 887 would be approximately 3,000 individuals in total. Having concluded that the Lubanga
883 TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , para. 10. 884 Lubanga TFV’s Twenty-first Report, ICC-01/04-01/06-3919-Conf, para. 11. 885 As warned by the TFV, see TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , para. 19. 886 TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , para. 20. 887 See Section III.E.2.b).
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victims amounted to 2,476, the Chamber considers that this sub-group of victims will likely not exceed 524 victims in total. 341. The Chamber notes that, following prior jurisprudence, in the Reparations Order the Chamber presumed material, physical, and psychological harm regarding former child soldiers, direct victims of rape and sexual slavery, and indirect victims who are close family members 888 of the above. Accordingly, all the victims in this sub-group would, in principle, be entitled to a full rehabilitation program which, as noted above, it is projected to cost in average, per 889 capita , 4,000.61 USD, direct and indirect costs included. Taking these projections into account, the Chamber notes that the full rehabilitation of the estimated Ntaganda -only victims 890 of crimes against child soldiers would cost approximately USD 2,096,320. c) Amount required to repair the harms caused to the victims of the attacks. 342. At the outset, regarding the basis to be used to calculate the cost to repair the harms suffered by the victims of the attacks, the Chamber notes that, having assessed the different 891 estimations submitted throughout the reparations proceedings, it considers that the most reliable estimates, at this stage of the proceedings, are the calculations recently provided by the TFV regarding the Lubanga case. In particular, the Chamber considers these estimates to be a reliable basis for the calculations as they are based on the actual costs of a reparations programme that has been designed to repair the harms of victims that although not of the same crimes they are all victims from the same region and were affected by the same armed conflict. In addition, the Chamber recalls that in accordance with the principles of dignity, nondiscrimination, and non-stigmatisation and to ensure fair and equal treatment of all victims during the reparation process, it has decided that all victims should be treated equally and should receive equivalent services as part of the collective reparations with individualised 892 components, even if they are implemented by different partners. As such, the Chamber considers fair and appropriate to use the Lubanga estimations based on the actual costs of
888 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 145, referring to, inter alia , Lubanga Decision on the Size of Reparations Award, ICC-01/04-01/06-3379-Red-Corr-tENG , paras 179-185 and Katanga Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-01/07-3728-tENG , paras 112-122. 889 TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , para. 20. 890 The Chamber notes that, to facilitate the understanding of the calculations, it has decided to round all the results approximating the decimal values up or down to the closest integer number. 891 See Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , paras 236-242. 892 See, inter alia, Decision on the IDIP, 23 July 2021, ICC-01/04-02/06-2696 , para. 19.
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implementation as the basis to calculate the approximate costs of repair the harms suffered by the victims of the attacks in the Ntaganda case. 343. As to the estimated number of victims of the attacks, the Chamber recalls that it has 893 concluded above that they would amount to approximately 7,500 individuals in total. The Chamber further notes that the results of the Sample of victims’ dossiers assessed by the Chamber provide reliable points of reference to project the calculations of the total costs to repair the different kinds of harm suffered by the victims of the attacks. Accordingly, the Chamber details below its reasoning and calculations of the amounts it considers would be required to repair the harms suffered by the victims of the attacks, distinguishing between the costs necessary to provide victims with (i) mental care; (ii) physical care; and (iii) socio- 894 economic support. i. Costs required to cover measures directed at providing mental care to victims of the attacks 344. The Chamber notes that the results of the Sample of victims’ dossiers analysed in the present case indicate that 100% of the victims of the attacks that were found eligible within the 895 Sample, are to be considered to have suffered from psychological harm. This calculation coincides with the results of the first year of implementation of the reparations programme in the Lubanga case, where 100% of beneficiaries underwent primary mental care. As such, the Chamber considers that it can be safely estimated that a similar percentage of victims of the attacks will require secondary and specialised mental care as those required by victims in the first year of implementation of the Lubanga reparations programme. Accordingly, the Chamber relies on the same percentages of the required different levels of mental care in the Lubanga case to project the needs that will likely present themselves in terms of mental care for the victims of the attacks in the Ntaganda case. 345. The Chamber notes that the TFV indicated that the average costs recently provided did 896 897 not include indirect costs. The Chamber recalls that, following the TFV’s request, in the Reparations Order the Chamber considered the programme support costs as part of the costs of
893 See Section III.E.2.c). 894 The Chamber is satisfied that this different type of care holistically addresses the different harms suffered by the victims of the attacks, as recognised in the Reparations Order. 895 See Annex III. 896 TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , para. 22. 897 TFV February 2020 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2476 , paras 131-136; TFV December 2020 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2635-Red , para. 67.
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repair, while directing the TFV, to the extent possible, to resort to pre-existing structures,
898
programmes and partners to keep the costs at minimum. The Chamber maintains its view
that, particularly considering the type and modalities of reparations ordered in the present case,
meaning collective reparations with individualised components, which are service-based
rehabilitation programmes, the costs required for the implementing partner to be able to
actually provide the services required by the victims necessarily need to be included in the
costs of repair. The Chamber recalls that the TFV has previously noted that indirect costs
899
should not exceed 15% of the total direct project costs. Accordingly, the Chamber has
included in its calculations an extra 15% accounting for the maximum amount to be spent on
indirect costs, including monitoring and evaluation.
346 In light of the above, as detailed and itemised in the table below, the Chamber estimates
that the total amount required to provide mental care to victims of the attacks in the Ntaganda
900
case would be approximately $5,032,898.
MENTAL CARE Average cost % of victims Number of victims Costs of different types of TYPE AND LEVEL OF per type of that required of the attacks that care for the entire group of CARE care in the each type of would require each victims of the attacks in Lubanga care in the type of care when the Ntaganda case case Lubanga Lubanga case % case are applied to the estimated total PRIMARY CARE $388.64 100% 7,500 $2,914,800 SECONDARY CARE $658.69 26.47% 1,985 $1,307,500 SPECIALISED CARE $1,541.33 1.33% 100 $154,133 TOTAL DIRECT PROJECT $ 4,376,433 COSTS INDIRECT COST 15% $656,465 TOTAL $5,032,898
ii. Costs required to cover measures directed at physical care of victims
of the attacks
347 The Chamber notes that the results of the Sample of victims’ dossiers analysed in the
present case indicate that 43.9% of the victims of the attacks that were found eligible within
901
the Sample, are to be considered to have suffered from physical harm. This calculation is
very close and almost coincides with the results of the first year of implementation of the
898 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , para. 213. 899 TFV February 2020 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2476 , para. 134. 900 The Chamber reiterates that the calculations below have been rounded, approximating decimal values up or down to the closest integer number. 901 See Annex III.
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reparations programme in the Lubanga case, where 41.77% of beneficiaries underwent primary physical care. As such, the Chamber considers that it can be safely estimated that similar percentages of victims of the attacks will require secondary and specialised physical care as those required by victims in the first year of implementation of the Lubanga reparations programme. Accordingly, the Chamber will also rely on the same percentage of the required levels of physical care in the Lubanga case to project the needs that will likely present themselves in terms of physical care for the victims of the attacks in the Ntaganda case. 348. As it was the case regarding mental care, the Chamber has included in its calculations an extra 15% accounting for the maximum amount to be spent in indirect costs, which was not included in the TFV’s most recent calculations.
349 In light of the above, as detailed and itemised in the table below, the Chamber estimates that the total amount required to provide physical care to victims of the attacks in the Ntaganda 902 case would be approximately $2,780,922. PHYSICAL CARE Average cost % of victims Number of victims Costs of different types of TYPE AND LEVEL OF per type of that required of the attacks that care for the entire group of CARE care in the each type of would require each victims of the attacks in Lubanga care in the type of care when the Ntaganda case case Lubanga Lubanga % are case applied to the estimated total PRIMARY CARE $241.09 41.77% 3,133 $755,335 SECONDARY CARE $315.15 32.36% 2,427 $764,869 SPECIALISED CARE $3.128.88 3.83% 287 $897,989 TOTAL DIRECT PROJECT $2,418,193 COSTS INDIRECT COST 15% $362,729 TOTAL $2,780,922 iii. Costs required to cover measures directed at socio-economic support of victims of the attacks 350. The Chamber notes that regarding socio-economic support, the TFV provided average costs but did not provide statistics as to the number of beneficiaries that have benefited from 903 this component of the service-based reparations programme in the Lubanga case. Nevertheless, the Chamber considers that the results of the Sample of victims’ dossiers analysed in the present case provide the Chamber with sufficient information to project
902 The Chamber reiterates that the calculations below have been rounded, approximating decimal values up or down to the closest integer number. 903 TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , para. 24.
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estimated costs, particularly considering that the results of the Sample have been shown to fairly correspond with the results of the first year of implementation of the reparations programme in the Lubanga case regarding psychological and physical harm, as noted in the two sections above. As such, the Chamber finds that it can safely project the needs in terms of socio-economic support of the victims of the attacks relying on the results of the Sample of victims’ dossiers analysed by the Chamber. 351. As to the first component of the measures of socio-economic support quantified by the TFV, i.e., schooling and university scholarship, the Chamber notes that the TFV details the costs per capita and indicates that schooling costs USD 200 per year and university scholarship USD 400. However, the Chambers notes that the TFV does not indicate whether the ‘university scholarship’ covers yearly fees or the entire university education. In these circumstances, interpreting uncertainties in favour of the convicted person, the Chamber considers that it is fair to assume that the yearly schooling costs for the entire five years of the programme, will equally cover the need of those beneficiaries that may require university scholarships. 352. Not having other parameters allowing the Chamber to estimate with more certainty how many beneficiaries would qualify to receive support for schooling, the Chamber has decided, within its discretion, to estimate for the purposes of calculations that all indirect victims would likely qualify to receive schooling support. The Chamber is of the view that schooling support should be provided for the entire five years of duration of the programme to be devised for the victims of the attacks in similar conditions to the one that deals with the victims of the crimes against child soldiers. As such, noting that according to the results of the Chamber’s assessment of the Sample of victims’ dossiers 27.6% of the victims of the attacks would be eligible as 904 indirect victims, the Chamber estimates that the same percentage of victims in the estimated total of victims of the attacks in the Ntaganda case would likely require schooling support. 353. Regarding vocational training and income generating activities (‘IGA’), the Chamber considers it fair to estimate that all victims that have suffered material harm would likely require to benefit from vocational training and IGA activities. Noting that according to the results of the Chamber’s assessment of the Sample of victims’ dossiers 76.5% of victims of the 905 attacks are to be considered to have suffered from material harm, the Chamber estimates that
904 See Annex III. 905 See Annex III.
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the same percentage of victims in the estimated total of victims of the attacks in the Ntaganda
case would likely require vocational training and IGA activities.
354 As for mental and physical care, the Chamber has included in its calculations an extra
15% accounting for the maximum amount to be spent in indirect costs, which was not included in the TFV’s most recent calculations.
355 In light of the above, as detailed and itemised in the table below, the Chamber estimates
that the total amount required to provide socio-economic support to victims of the attacks in
906
the Ntaganda case would be approximately $11,189,765.
TYPE OF SERVICE SOCIO-ECONOMIC SUPPORT Average cost % of Number of Costs of different types of care for per type of care victims in victims likely the entire group of victims of the in the Lubanga the sample to require attacks in the Ntaganda case case services EDUCATION GRANT $1,000 (5 27.6% 2,070 $ 2,070,000 (UDS 200 per year) years) VOCATIONAL $460 76.5% 5,738 $ 2,639,480 TRAINING IGA ACTIVITIES $875 76.5% 5,738 $ 5,020,750 TOTAL DIRECT $ 9,730,230 PROJECT COSTS INDIRECT COSTS $ 1,459,535 15% TOTAL $11,189,765
d) amount required to repair the harm caused as a consequence of the attack
to the Sayo health centre
356 As described above, the Chamber found Mr Ntaganda liable to repair the harm caused
as a consequence of the attack to the Sayo health centre, which is estimated regarding the harm
907
to the centre and the community in the total of USD 130,000.
357 Regarding individual victims, i.e., patients who were receiving ongoing in-hospital and
ambulatory care at the time of the attack, the health centre staff, and the indirect victims of the
above, which the Chamber estimated would amount to between 25 to 33 victims, the Chamber
notes that they are considered above within the general estimation of approximately 7,500
victims of the attacks. No further calculations are required in relation to these victims.
906 The Chamber reiterates that the calculations below have been rounded, approximating decimal values up or down to the closest integer number. 907 See Section III.C.3 above.
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3 Conclusion as to the total amount of Mr Ntaganda liability for reparations 358. In light of the above, as consolidated and itemised in the table below, the Chamber estimates, that the total amount required to provide reparations to all victims of the crimes for which Mr Ntaganda was convicted would be approximately the total amount of USD 31,229,905. GROUP/HARM TOTAL OVERLAPPING LUBANGA/NTAGANDA VICTIMS $ 10,000,000 NTAGANDA -ONLY CHILD SOLDIERS/SGBV $ 2,096,320 VICTIMS PSYCHOLOGICAL HARM (VICTIMS OF THE $ 5,032,898 ATTACK) PHYSICAL HARM (VICTIMS OF THE ATTACK) $ 2,780,922 MATERIAL HARM (VICTIMS OF THE ATTACK) $ 11,189,765 SAYO HEALTH CENTRE $ 130,000 TOTAL $ 31,229,905 359. The Chamber notes that it has considered in detail the parameters underlined by the TFV when projecting the cost to repair the harms caused to the victims of the crimes for which 908 Mr Ntaganda was convicted based on the costs of the Lubanga programme. Accordingly, the Chamber has made the above calculations mindful that, in general terms, programmes are not designed per capita and that, in the context of the Ntaganda reparations, general costs can be lower due to (i) savings in launching and readjustments for child soldiers victims integrated in the Lubanga programme; (ii) budgetary efficiencies in new projects due to the experience gained implementing reparations in the DRC; (iii) the family dimension that may bring further savings in relation to the victims of the attacks; and (iv) the specificity of the individual harms suffered by the Ntaganda victims. Nevertheless, the Chamber has concluded that the Lubanga costs are the most reliable estimates in which to base the Chamber’s decision, as they are the actual costs of the reparation programme that will benefit an important part of the victims of the case. As such, the Lubanga programme will be the basis under which the programme for the victims of the attacks should be designed in order to ensure fair and equal treatment of all victims. In addition, the Chamber notes that all other estimates provided during the reparation proceedings are either only estimates or are costs of programmes devised for a different 909 purpose, assistance for example, or within a different context. As such they do not provide such a strong basis for calculation as the actual costs of running the Lubanga programme do.
908 TFV January 2023 Submissions, ICC-01/04-02/06-2819 , paras 14-19. 909 Reparations Order, ICC-01/04-02/06-2659 , paras 236-241.
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360 The Chamber recalls that the calculations above made for the purposes of the Ntaganda reparations do not account for the possible expensive mental or physical health support that certain victims may require and were calculated and projected using values of the first year of implementation of a five-year plan, and thus, may not account for inflation or the financial impact of the ongoing security situation. Lastly, the Chamber reiterates that the estimated number of victims is based on projections with an uncertain basis and thus any possible savings may serve to provide for the funds required to repair additional victims that may come forward and be found eligible to benefit from reparations. Accordingly, the Chamber is satisfied that setting the amount of Mr Ntaganda’s liability for reparations at the total of USD 31,300,000 is 910 fair, equitable, and appropriate, and takes into account the rights of the victims and those of the convicted person.
IV. IMPLEMENTATION
911 361. As previously indicated, since this Addendum is an integral part of the Reparations Order, the parties will have a fresh right to appeal it directly before the Appeals Chamber pursuant to article 82(4) of the Statute and rules 150 to 153 of the Rules. 362. In line with the Chamber’s approach to these proceedings, following this Addendum the Chamber will rule on all aspects of the Draft Implementation Plan that do not require further submissions from the TFV or the parties, including the procedural aspects of the mechanism for the determination of the victims’ eligibility. 363. Pursuant to regulation 117 of the Regulations, the Chamber reiterates the request for the Presidency’s assistance, with the support of the Registry, to continue exploring whether Mr Ntaganda possesses any undiscovered assets and to monitor Mr Ntaganda’s financial situation on an ongoing basis in order to enforce the Reparations Order to which this Addendum is an integral part.
910 See paras 20, 342 above. 911 See Section II above.
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FOR THE FOREGOING REASONS, THE CHAMBER HEREBY,
ISSUES this Addendum to the Reparations Order against Mr Ntaganda; FINDS that 132 out of the 171 victims in the Sample have established, on a balance of probabilities, their eligibility as victims of the crimes for which Mr Ntaganda was convicted; FINDS that 39 out of the 171 victims in the Sample have not established, on a balance of probabilities, their eligibility as victims of the crimes for which Mr Ntaganda was convicted; REITERATES that the victims that have not established their eligibility will have the opportunity to supplement their dossiers and clarify their accounts at the implementation stage; REITERATES its findings in the Reparations Order as to transgenerational harm; REITERATES its findings in the Reparations Order as to Mr Ntaganda’s liability to repair the harm caused as a consequence of the attack to the Sayo health centre, which is estimated regarding the harm to the centre and the community in the total of USD 130,000; CONCLUDES that no presumption of physical harm shall be applied to victims of Count 3 (attack against the civilian population), Count 11 (pillaging), Count 17 (attack against protected objects), and Count 18 (destruction of property); CONCLUDES that the presumption of physical harm for all victims of forcible transfer and displacement (Counts 12 and 13) and persecution (Count 10) through the underlying acts of forcible transfer and displacement should be maintained; ESTIMATES that the approximate number of direct and indirect victims of crimes against child soldiers, as referred to in Counts 6, 9, 14, 15, and 16 of the Conviction Judgment, would amount to approximately 3,000 individuals in total; ESTIMATES that the approximate number of direct and indirect victims of the attacks, as referred to in Counts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 17, and 18 of the Conviction Judgment, would amount to approximately 7,500 individuals in total; ASSESSES Mr Ntaganda’s liability for reparations at USD 31,300,000;
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__________________________
Judge Chang-ho Chung, Presiding Judge
__________________________ __________________________
Judge Péter Kovács Judge María del Socorro Flores Liera
Dated this Friday, 14 July 2023 At The Hague, The Netherlands
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