International Criminal Court: New US sanctions ‘a flagrant attack’ against its independence
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has condemned new US sanctions against its officials as a 'flagrant attack' on its judicial independence. The US, which is not a party to the Rome Statute, maintains that the court threatens its national sovereignty.
Why it matters
This conflict underscores the geopolitical tension between international judicial bodies and major world powers regarding accountability for war crimes.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Wednesday responded to a new round of US sanctions targeting its president and a senior prosecutor, calling them “a flagrant attack” against the court.
“ These sanctions are a flagrant attack against the independence of an impartial judicial institution which operates pursuant to the mandate conferred by its States Parties from across regions,” the ICC wrote in a statement .
Established in 2002 under the Rome Statute, the ICC is a separate institution and not part of the UN, although the Security Council may refer cases to the court.
With the consent of countries that have signed the Rome Statute, the ICC prosecutes individuals for genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression.
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