Reparation and Rehabilitation

The International Criminal Court’s regulatory framework is completely silent on the treatment of animals despite the fact that they have figured in every single one of its reparations proceedings. As a consequence, the International Criminal Court has been relegating animals to mere objects that can be used to repair the harm of human victims. Moreover, the court has been oblivious to the suffering of animals as a result of the commission of crimes within its jurisdiction. This chapter discusses the (improbable) scenarios where animals could indirectly benefit from reparations. It submits that the International Criminal Court should revisit the treatment of animals as mere objects.