Response to the imposition of sanctions against the ICC

I stand with those who strongly condemn the sanctions imposed by the United States against the International Criminal Court and its officials. 

It is deeply concerning that the U.S. is undermining the very foundations of international criminal law, which it once played a key role in shaping. The scope and rationale of these sanctions represent not only a denial of historical lessons, but also a blatant disregard for the rule of law as the bedrock of modern international relations. 

The development of international criminal law began in 1946 with the support of the U.S. through the Nuremberg Trials, where individuals accused of crimes against humanity committed during World War II were brought to justice and required to defend themselves before the judges. These are crimes that have no statute of limitations and from which no one should be exempt. 

I therefore support the initiative of the States Parties to the Rome Statute to stand up for the ICC and its dedicated personnel, including the judge form Slovenia, who should continue her important work despite the obstacles imposed by this superpower. 

With its recent executive order, the U.S. is sending a dangerous message to the world: that ICC judges will be punished simply for pursuing justice against those suspected of such grave crimes. However, the message to the international community that seeks to live in security and peace should be quite different: the only assurance that individuals – regardless of nationality – will not be prosecuted is that they are not complicit in the most heinous crimes against humanity.