Lubanga and its Implications for Victims Seeking Reparations under the International Criminal Court

This article explores the implications that the historic yet controversial Lubanga judgment is likely to have for victims seeking reparations through the International Criminal Court (ICC). It examines the reparations framework of the ICC and, drawing on the outcomes of Lubanga, outlines some significant obstacles which the case-based reparations scheme confronts. The article concludes that, while reparations are a cornerstone of the ICC arrangements, their provisions are riddled with financial and practical difficulties which, apart from calling into the question the adequacy of reparations for victims in Lubanga, also raises doubts about the efficacy of the ICC reparations framework as a whole.