Editing International Criminal Court (section)

===Victim participation===
One of the great innovations of the Statute of the International Criminal Court and its Rules of Procedure and Evidence is the series of rights granted to victims.<ref>{{cite web |author=International Criminal Court |url=http://www.icc-cpi.int/victimsissues.html |title=Victims and witnesses |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070702033823/http://www.icc-cpi.int/victimsissues.html |archive-date=2 July 2007 |access-date=22 June 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author=Ilaria Bottigliero |date=April 2003 |url=http://www.sgiquarterly.org/english/Features/quarterly/0304/perspective.htm |title=The International Criminal Court&nbsp;– Hope for the Victims |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928031441/http://www.sgiquarterly.org/english/Features/quarterly/0304/perspective.htm |archive-date=28 September 2007 |issue=32 |journal=[[SGI Quarterly]] |pages=13–15}}</ref> For the first time in the history of international criminal justice, victims have the possibility under the Statute to present their views and observations before the Court.

Participation before the Court may occur at various stages of proceedings and may take different forms, although it will be up to the judges to give directions as to the timing and manner of participation.

Participation in the Court's proceedings will in most cases take place through a legal representative and will be conducted "in a manner which is not prejudicial or inconsistent with the rights of the accused and a fair and impartial trial".

The victim-based provisions within the Rome Statute provide victims with the opportunity to have their voices heard and to obtain, where appropriate, some form of reparation for their suffering. It is the aim of this attempted balance between [[Retributive justice|retributive]] and [[restorative justice]] that, it is hoped, will enable the ICC to not only bring criminals to justice but also help the victims themselves obtain some form of justice. Justice for victims before the ICC comprises both procedural and substantive justice, by allowing them to participate and present their views and interests, so that they can help to shape truth, justice and reparations outcomes of the Court.<ref>
{{Cite web |last=Moffett |first=Luke |url=http://www.internationalcrimesdatabase.org/upload/documents/20140916T170017-ICD%20Brief%20-%20Moffett.pdf |title=Realising Justice for Victims before the International Criminal Court |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927120303/http://www.internationalcrimesdatabase.org/upload/documents/20140916T170017-ICD%20Brief%20-%20Moffett.pdf |archive-date=27 September 2015 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Article 43(6) establishes a Victims and Witnesses Unit to provide "protective measures and security arrangements, counseling and other appropriate assistance for witnesses, victims who appear before the Court, and others who are at risk on account of testimony given by such witnesses."<ref name="RomeStatute" />{{rp|article 43(6)}} Article 68 sets out procedures for the "Protection of the victims and witnesses and their participation in the proceedings."<ref name="RomeStatute" />{{rp|article 68}} The Court has also established an Office of Public Counsel for Victims, to provide support and assistance to victims and their legal representatives.<ref name="2006report">International Criminal Court, 17 October 2006. {{PDFWayback |date=20080216043708 |url=http://www.icc-cpi.int/library/asp/ICC-ASP-5-15_English.pdf |title=Report on the activities of the Court|size=151&nbsp;KB}}. Retrieved 18 June 2007.</ref>