The UK has reaffirmed its "continued and unwavering support" for the International Criminal Court (ICC) alongside its G7 allies, after the US imposed sanctions on the tribunal.
In a joint statement, the remaining G7 nations – the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan – together with Denmark and the Netherlands, said they "regret and strongly disagree with" the sanctions. They warned that while the ICC had taken measures to ensure it could carry on functioning, the sanctions would "have a significant impact on the court's work".
Support for ICC staff
The nations also paid tribute to the court's staff and their families, noting they "work every day to bring those accused of the most serious international crimes to justice and to support their victims".
The statement follows US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's announcement of sweeping sanctions against the ICC, branding it a "rogue court". The statement also appeared to be a direct rebuke to Mr Rubio, who had demanded America's allies "rein in" the court, warning that failing to do so would see the US "continue its campaign" to "end the ICC".
US criticism of the court
The US administration has been fiercely critical of the ICC over its probe into the conduct of US troops in Afghanistan, and has firmly rejected its decision to issue an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Neither the US nor Israel are signatories to the ICC – which was established in 2002 to prosecute war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide – and both reject its authority over their citizens.
The US announcement of sanctions came at the same time as one of the court's former judges, Navi Pillay, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Mr Rubio said the sanctions would "ban transactions" with the ICC, "cutting off their resources and crippling its ability to operate".
Court's response
In a statement, the court itself said the sanctions were "an attempt to obstruct the course of justice" and "an assault on the rule of law and on the very foundations of the international legal order".
Cautioning that the court "cannot stand alone", it added: "Its fate now rests also in the hands of the states that created it."
"The court calls upon states to continue taking concrete actions, including to ensure that the court continues to have the necessary means to continue its work."
"This is not just about defending a single institution, but about safeguarding the international order grounded upon the rule of law."
"No one should be punished for serving the cause of justice. History will judge this moment. Future generations, and above all the victims of mass atrocities, will ask how we responded when an institution created to protect them came under attack."
The International Federation for Human Rights also hit out at the sanctions, with its president Alexis Deswaef arguing that the ICC's 125 member states "cannot establish a court to hold the powerful accountable and then stand by while it is being dismantled". "They must act collectively to protect the court, civil society, and the victims and survivors who depend on them," he added.
