Gender Report Card on the International Criminal ... - YWCA Canada

Structures & Institutional Development Structures
Office of the
Public Counsel for Victims160
The Office of the Public Counsel for Victims (OPCV) was created
on 19 September 2005 pursuant to Regulation 81(1) of the
Regulations of the Court 161 to support the legal representatives of
victims and victims themselves through legal research and advice,
as well as by appearing in Court in respect of specific issues. 162
Regulation 80(2) establishes also that a Chamber can appoint
Legal Counsel from the OPCV to represent a victim. Moreover,
victims can decide themselves to be represented by the OPCV. The
Office is also responsible for protecting the interests of applicants
(potential victims) during the application process and before they
have been formally recognised as victims by a Chamber.
In summary, the OPCV performs the following roles:
1 It protects the interests of victim applicants before they have been formally
recognised as victims by a Chamber;
2 It assists the legal representatives of victims by providing legal advice and research if
so required;
3 It can be asked by a victim’s legal representative to stand in Court as ad hoc Counsel
on specific issues or during specific hearings;
4 It can act as Counsel when appointed by a Chamber or requested by a victim; and
5 It can act as Counsel assisted by the Counsel selected by the victim, if the latter does
not fulfil all the requirements established by the Court to act as Counsel.
Pursuant to Regulation 81.2, the OPCV is an independent office which falls under the
Registry for administrative purposes.
160 Further information about victims’ participation can be found in the Victim Participation and Legal
Representation sections of this <strong>Report</strong>.
161 Regulations of the Court, ICC-BD/01-01-04, adopted on 26 May 2004.
162 Regulation 81(4)(a)and (b).
37