Beyza Binnur Dönmez
09 October 2026•Update: 09 October 2026
- Experts urge governments to defend court's independence and call on EU to activate Blocking Statute to shield ICC from sanctions
- UN human rights chief warns against chilling effect, urging all 125 states party to Rome Statute to take urgent steps to safeguard court's operations
UN experts warned Friday that US sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC) amounted to a "brash attempt" to dismantle the international justice system, urging governments to protect the court's independence.
"Sanctioning the institution entrusted with delivering justice for the gravest international crimes is an assault on the foundations of international accountability and rule of law," the experts said in a statement.
The warning followed Washington's imposition of sanctions on the ICC as an institution, after earlier measures targeting more than 10 current or former ICC judges and personnel, as well as a UN special rapporteur.
The experts said the sanctions directly harmed victims of atrocities who relied on the court for justice, accountability and reparations.
"The sanctions are aimed at bringing the ICC to its knees; and ensuring US allies are not held accountable for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity," they said.
The experts urged the EU to immediately activate its Blocking Statute to prevent European operators, including banks and service providers, from complying with third-country sanctions that violate international law.
They also called on governments to protect ICC personnel and individuals working with the court.
The experts urged states to use existing international agreements to mitigate the impact of the sanctions and safeguard the court's operations.
"Silence and inaction will only embolden further attacks. States must act collectively now to protect this Court," they warned.
UN rights chief calls US sanctions 'unacceptable'
Separately, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk described the US sanctions as "unacceptable," calling for immediate measures to protect the court and those cooperating with it.
"These sanctions – the latest in a series of retaliatory steps against the ICC and its personnel for the work they do every day to advance accountability for the very worst violations of human rights – are unacceptable," Turk said in a statement Friday.
He warned against allowing the measures to have a chilling effect on individuals and organizations working with the court, urging all 125 states party to the Rome Statute to take urgent steps to safeguard its operations.
"They have a particular obligation to protect the institution they have created," he stressed.
Calling for the withdrawal of all sanctions against the ICC and its personnel, Turk said: "We need to be investing more in ensuring justice and accountability – rather than penalizing those who are documenting, investigating and prosecuting serious violations."
