The Court shall recognise and respect the rights, dignity, safety, privacy, and wellbeing of victims and witnesses participating in proceedings.
Victims shall have the right to participate in proceedings in accordance with this Treaty and the Rules of the Court.
The Court may permit victims to: a. make statements concerning the harm suffered; b. present relevant evidence; c. be represented by legal counsel; d. make submissions concerning appropriate protective measures, reparations, and sentencing; and e. participate in other proceedings where the Court considers their participation appropriate.
The Court shall establish appropriate measures for the protection of victims and witnesses against intimidation, threats, harassment, retaliation, coercion, violence, or other interference.
Protection measures may include: a. protection of personal information and identifying details; b. secure or private locations for giving evidence; c. remote video testimony; d. voice or image protection where necessary; e. relocation or other protective arrangements; f. restrictions on publication of sensitive information; and g. any other reasonable protective measure authorised by the Court.
Special measures shall be available for children, survivors of sexual violence, victims of trafficking, persons with disabilities, vulnerable witnesses, and persons facing a particular risk of retaliation or intimidation.
The Court may appoint or establish a Victims and Witnesses Protection and Support Service to provide practical, legal, psychological, medical, safeguarding, and other appropriate assistance.
No victim or witness shall be punished, threatened, intimidated, harassed, discriminated against, or otherwise disadvantaged for providing truthful information or evidence to the Court.
Knowingly providing materially false evidence, fabricating evidence, deliberately misleading the Court, or making a knowingly false allegation may constitute an offence under the Rules of the Court or applicable law.
The Court shall take reasonable measures to prevent victims and witnesses from being exposed unnecessarily to traumatic or harmful questioning, particularly in cases involving children, sexual violence, trafficking, torture, or other serious abuse.
The Court may permit victims and witnesses to participate through secure video link or other remote means where this is necessary or appropriate for their safety, wellbeing, privacy, or effective participation.
The Court shall seek, where appropriate, to prevent unnecessary disclosure of the identity of child victims and witnesses.
Protective measures shall be applied in a manner consistent with the rights of the accused, including the right to a fair trial and the right to challenge relevant evidence.
A person who threatens, intimidates, bribes, coerces, harms, or attempts to interfere with a victim or witness because of their involvement with the Court may be subject to arrest, prosecution, and other lawful measures under this Treaty.
The Court shall establish procedures for emergency protection where a victim or witness faces an immediate risk of serious harm.
The Court may cooperate with States Parties, international organisations, humanitarian organisations, medical and safeguarding services, law-enforcement authorities, and other competent bodies to protect and support victims and witnesses.
The Court shall seek to ensure that victims are treated with dignity and that their participation in proceedings does not itself expose them to unnecessary further harm.
Nothing in this Article shall prevent the Court from adopting additional protections or support measures where required by the circumstances of an individual case.