GENEVA - UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on Friday described as "unacceptable" the imposition of institutional sanctions against the International Criminal Court by the Government of the United States of America. He called for immediate measures to protect the Court and groups and individuals 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," Türk said.
"They must not be allowed to have a chilling effect on those working for or with the Court in pursuit of justice. I particularly urge the 125 States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court - a full two-thirds of the international community - to take urgent steps to defend its crucial work and assure its ability to function. They have a particular obligation to protect the institution they have created."
He also called on States who have not yet joined the Court to respect its independence and work.
The latest announcement by the US comes after a series of sanctions imposed since February 2025 against a full half of the Court's 18 judges, its former Prosecutor, both its Deputy Prosecutors, and a senior staff member of the ICC. Türk had previously stressed that "sanctioning judges and prosecutors at national, regional or international levels, for fulfilling their mandate in accordance with international law standards, is an assault on the rule of law and corrodes justice".
The High Commissioner also deplored the earlier convictions in absentia entered in the Russian Federation against the then ICC Prosecutor and eight judges, with sentences of imprisonment up to 15 years imposed against them.
Türk called for the withdrawal of all sanctions against the ICC and its personnel.
"It is abundantly clear in all the conflicts and crises that plague our world that impunity fuels violence and suffering. We need to be investing more in ensuring justice and accountability - rather than penalizing those who are documenting, investigating and prosecuting serious violations."
