Horovitz, Sigall --- "The role of victims" [2013] ELECD 379; in Carter, Linda; Pocar, Fausto (eds), "International Criminal Procedure" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2013) 166

Book Title: International Criminal Procedure

Editor(s): Carter, Linda; Pocar, Fausto

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN (hard cover): 9780857939579

Section: Chapter 6

Section Title: The role of victims

Author(s): Horovitz, Sigall

Number of pages: 26

Abstract/Description:

This chapter addresses the role of victims in proceedings before international criminal tribunals. It mainly focuses on the relevant practices of the International Criminal Court (ICC), the first international criminal tribunal to allow victims to actively participate in criminal proceedings. Occasionally, references will be made to the approaches of other international criminal tribunals, especially where they differ from that of the ICC. The chapter will not discuss the right of victims to receive reparations, which the ICC grants them separately from the right to participate in proceedings. While the ICC is the first international tribunal to grant victims an active role in its proceedings, this approach is not uncommon in national jurisdictions that follow the civil law tradition. For example, in France, victims can become “civil parties” to the proceedings by attaching their civil claim for compensation to the criminal proceedings against the accused. Similar types of “adhesion” procedures are available in most other European states. These jurisdictions allow victims to bring accusations against their perpetrators, receive legal representation during the criminal process, and obtain reparations through criminal prosecutions.