GENEVA (9 October 2026) – 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”.
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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 penalising those who are documenting,
investigating and prosecuting serious
violations.”
