GENEVA (28 August 2026) – The United States must immediately withdraw sanctions against International Criminal Court (ICC) personnel, UN experts said today, after new designations targeting the President of the Court and a staff member were issued on 18 August.
“All ICC Members and other States committed to accountability must take bold and urgent action to protect the Court against unlawful interference in the administration of international justice,” the experts said. “States must act immediately to mitigate the impact of these measures against judges, prosecutors and staff of the ICC.”
On 18 August, the President of the ICC, Judge Tomoko Akane of Japan, and ICC Senior Trial Lawyer, Abdoulaye Seye of Senegal, were designated for sanctions by the US Government. With this latest round of designations, 11 current or former ICC judges and personnel have been sanctioned under US Executive Order 14203.
“The imperative to act is all the more urgent because the US Government has pledged to ‘systematically dismantle the ICC’ on the erroneous claim that it threatens US sovereignty,” the experts said. “If that policy succeeds, it will roll back international criminal accountability gains against impunity forged in the fires of Nuremberg and Tokyo, and the International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and for Rwanda; and extinguish hope for victims of the gravest atrocity crimes across the world.”
“The ICC and its personnel cannot be expected to weather this powerful storm alone,” the experts said. “This court took decades to build – the work of States, jurists, human rights advocates and countless others worldwide invested in ending impunity for the gravest international crimes. The institution, and the essential work it performs for humanity, now faces unprecedented attack.”
Noting with concern that the sanctions also violate the human rights of those targeted, the experts reiterated their call to the European Union to activate the EU Blocking Statute, which would prevent the bloc’s operators – including banks and service providers – from complying with third country sanctions that violate international law.
They also urged Member States to ratify and use the Agreement on Privileges and Immunities of the ICC to mitigate the effects of the sanctions, and deepen their operational engagement with the Court.
“It is imperative for States to ensure that businesses within their jurisdiction do not over-comply with these unilateral sanctions. Member States should confer about actions they can take together to protect the Court, its personnel, and those who engage with the Court.”
The experts said that these actions were especially essential following the US decision to target the ICC’s top judge.
“Sanctions targeting ICC justice personnel cannot be allowed to stand,” the experts said. “Member States of the ICC must act with conviction, courage and haste to protect the court and facilitate its work.”
“For victims of atrocities and their advocates, who rely on judges, prosecutors and Court lawyers for justice, accountability and reparation, these sanctions send a chilling message,” they said.
Noting with concern that the sanctions, including their extraterritorial effects, may directly violate the human rights of those under sanctions, the experts expressed alarm that NGOs have also been targeted by the sanctions. Victims themselves may also fear punishment under the US sanctions regime, because the legal system allows for civil and criminal penalties against those transacting with sanctioned individuals in some circumstances.
“We also reiterate our condemnation of the US sanctions imposed on our colleague, Francesca Albanese, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967, purely in response to her work as a UN Special Procedures expert, appointed by the UN Human Rights Council.”
The experts also expressed deep regret that six ICC Member States have recently indicated their intention to withdraw from the ICC, and urged them to reconsider.
The experts are in contact with the Government of the United States of America about their concerns.
*The experts:
- Margaret Satterthwaite, Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers
- George Katrougalos, Independent expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order
- Ashwini K.P., Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance
- Andrea Bolaños Vargas, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Robert McCorquodale (Chairperson), Fernanda Hopenhaym (Vice-Chairperson), Lyra Jakulevičienė, Damilola Olawuyi and Pichamon Yeophantong, Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises
- Gabriella Citroni (Chair-Rapporteur), Grażyna Baranowska (Vice-Chair), Aua Baldé, Ana Lorena Delgadillo Pérez and Mohamed Al Obaidi, Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances
- Mariângela Batista Galvão Simão, Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Richard Bennett, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan
- Gina Romero, Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association
- Bernard Duhaime, Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence
- Nils Muižnieks, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus
- Ben Saul, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism
- Paula Gaviria, Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons
- Ai Kihara-Hunt, Special Rapporteur on the sale, sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children
- Sofía Monsalve Suárez, Special Rapporteur on the right to food
- Koldo Casla, Special Rapportuer on the right to adequate housing
- Astrid Puentes Riaño, Special Rapporteur on the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment
- Francesca Albanese, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967
- Gehad Madi, Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants
- Elisa Morgera, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of climate change
- Michelle Small (Chair-Rapporteur), Ravindran Daniel, Jovana Jezdimirovic Ranito, Joana de Deus Pereira, Andrés Macías Tolosa, Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination
- Alexandra Xanthaki, Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights
- Mai Sato, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran
- Leopoldo Maldonado Gutierrez , Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
- Elena Carolina Díaz Galán, Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights
- Surya Deva, Special Rapporteur on the right to development
- Graeme Reid, Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity
- Bethanie Margaret Carney Almroth, Special Rapporteur on the implications for human rights of the environmentally sound management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes
- Morris Tidball-Binz, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions
- Claudia Flores(Chair), Ivana Krstić (Vice-Chair), Dorothy Estrada-Tanck, Haina Lu, and Laura Nyirinkindi, Working Group on discrimination against women and girls
- Nicolas Levrat, Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Reem Alsalem, Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences
- Isabelle Mamadou (Chair), Barbara Reynolds and John Phillip Binondo, Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent
- Pedro Arrojo-Agudo, Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation
- Farida Shaheed, Special Rapporteur on the right to education
- Heba Hagrass , Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Mariana Katzarova, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation.
- Shalmali Guttal (Chair Rapporteur), Carlos Duarte, Geneviève Savigny, Uche Ewelukwa Ofodile and Davit Hakobyan, Working Group on the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas.
- Zaina Jallad, Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights
- Pau Pérez Sales, Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
