GENEVA – The US Government’s imposition of sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) as an institution is a brash attempt to dismantle the international legal system created by States, jurists, human rights advocates and other stakeholders to hold perpetrators of the gravest crimes to account, UN experts* warned today, calling on States committed to the rule of law to stand together in defence of the Court and its 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. “No State should place itself beyond the reach of the law by intimidating the court established to enforce it and attempting to dismantle it.”
“This attack on the ICC directly injures the victims of atrocities and their advocates, who rely on the ICC for justice, accountability and reparation,” the experts said.
The United States today imposed sanctions on the ICC as an entity. The US Government had already sanctioned more than 10 current or former ICC judges and personnel, and one UN Special Rapporteur, under US Executive Order 14203 of 2025.
“These sanctions are an egregious assault by one country against the international administration of justice and the international criminal accountability gains against impunity for the gravest crimes,” the experts said. “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.”
“If ever there was a moment for States committed to an international rules-based order, to accountability for atrocity crimes, to the defence of human rights, and to the principle that no one is above the law, to stand up and be counted, it is now,” they warned.
“The international criminal justice system forged in the fires of Nuremberg and Tokyo, and the International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and for Rwanda, stands on a razor’s edge. Sanctioning the institutions at the heart of international justice risks dismantling, piece by piece, the system States built to ensure that the gravest crimes do not go unanswered.”
“As a global community, we cannot let one State launch unilateral attacks against the Court,” the experts said. “The ICC was built by humanity, created through the coordinated actions of states across the world, and its essential work for victims of the most serious crimes must continue.”
The experts called on the European Union to immediately activate the EU Blocking Statute, to prevent its operators – including banks and service providers – from complying with third country sanctions that violate international law. Other States with similar statutes should activate them as well to protect the Court, its personnel, victims, and those engaging with the ICC.
The experts also reiterated calls to Member States to ratify and use the Agreement on Privileges and Immunities of the ICC to mitigate the effects of the sanctions. The experts urged Member States whose nationals work at the ICC—the court employs citizens from about 100 countries—to take concrete steps to ensure nationals do not bear the brunt of the sanctions alone. They also encouraged States to ensure protection for civil society organisations and human rights defenders who support and cooperate with the Court.
“It is time for States to stand together in defence of this Court and the international justice system it embodies,” they said. “Silence and inaction will only embolden further attacks. States must act collectively now to protect this Court.”
The experts are in contact with the Government of the United States of America with their concerns.
OHCHR
*The experts:
- Margaret Satterthwaite, Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers
- Grażyna Baranowska (Chair-Rapporteur), Ana Lorena Delgadillo Pérez (Vice-Chair), Aua Baldé, Gabriella Citroni and Mohamed Al Obaidi, Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances
- Nils Muižnieks, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus
- Mai Sato, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran
- Surya Deva, Special Rapporteur on the right to development
- Elena Carolina Díaz Galán, Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights
- Ben Saul, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism
- Mohamed Abdelsalam Babiker Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea
- Elisa Morgera, Special Rapporteur on Climate Change
- Claudia Flores (Chair), Ivana Krstić (Vice-Chair), Dorothy Estrad- Tanck, Haina Lu, and Laura Nyirinkindi,Working Group on discrimination against women and girls
- Ai Kihara-Hunt, Special Rapporteur on the sale, sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children
- Ana Brian Nougrères, Special Rapporteur on the right to privacy
- George Katrougalos, Independent expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order
- Heba Hagrass, Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Bernard Duhaime, Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence
- Paula Gaviria, Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons
- Morris Tidball-Binz, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions
- Bethanie Margaret Carney Almroth, Special Rapporteur on the implications for human rights of the environmentally sound management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes
- 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
- Katarina Schwarz, Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery and trafficking in persons
- Robert McCorquodale (Chairperson), Ms. Fernanda Hopenhaym (Vice-Chairperson), Ms. Lyra Jakulevičienė, Ms. Pichamon Yeophantong, and Mr. Damilola Olawuyi, Working Group on Business and Human Rights
- Pau Pérez Sales, Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Zaina Jallad, Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights
- Astrid Puentes Riaño, Special Rapporteur on the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment
- Gina Romero, Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association
- Cecilia M Bailliet, Independent Expert on human rights and international solidarity
- Francesca Albanese, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967
- Fortuné Gaetan Zongo, Special Rapporteur on Burundi
- Leopoldo Maldonado Gutiérrez, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
- Andrea Bolaños Vargas, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Richard Bennett, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan
- Graeme Reid, Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity
- Michelle Small (Chair-Rapporteur), Ravindran Daniel, Jovana Jezdimirovic Ranito, Joana de Deus Pereira, Andrés Macías Tolosa, Working Group on the use of mercenaries
- Matthew Gillett (Chair-Rapporteur), Ethan Hee-Seok Shin (Vice-Chair for Follow-Up), Miriam Estrada Castillo and Mumba Malila, Working Group on Arbitrary Detention
