Geneva: A group of UN experts on Monday accused the United States of empowering war criminals by seeking to punish the International Criminal Court (ICC) and by denying justice and reparation to thousands of victims around the world, including women and children. This statement reflects growing international concern over the actions taken by the US government against the ICC.
According to Kuwait News Agency, the accusations follow an Executive Order signed by the US President authorizing sanctions on the ICC, its personnel, and individuals or entities cooperating with it. The group of UN experts from Geneva issued the statement, highlighting that these sanctions would severely undermine the ICC's ability to conduct investigations into war crimes and crimes against humanity globally, impacting cases involving vulnerable groups such as women and children.
The experts emphasized that imposing sanctions on court personnel for fulfilling their professional duties is a clear violation of human rights and poses a threat to judicial independence and the rule of law. They stressed that such actions by the US could be considered offenses against the administration of justice under Article 70 of the Rome Statute, which penalizes efforts to obstruct or retaliate against ICC officials.
The experts also cautioned that by sanctioning the ICC, the US President is jeopardizing the "never again" legacy of the Nuremberg trials, which have been a foundation for international criminal law since 1945. Despite these actions, the experts welcomed the support and solidarity expressed by other UN Member States for the ICC, underscoring the tribunal's essential role in the global justice system.
On January 6, the US President declared a national emergency in response to what was described as an "unusual and extraordinary threat" posed by the ICC's efforts to investigate or prosecute protected persons. The Executive Order opposes any ICC actions against the US, Israeli occupation authorities, or any ally that has not consented to ICC jurisdiction, with the intent to penalize the ICC for issuing arrest warrants against senior Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former war Minister Yoav Gallant.
The statement was issued by several prominent figures, including Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers Margaret Satterthwaite, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories Francesca Albanese, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism Ben Saul, and Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order George Katrougalos, and was endorsed by numerous other experts.