A good number of the signatories to the International Criminal Court Tribunal have warned that US President Donald Trump’s executive order imposing sanctions the world body the increases the “risk of impunity” for serious crimes.
The Countries include Britain, France, Germany, Canada, Brazil, Bangladesh, Slovenia, Luxembourg, Mexico, Sierra Leone and Vanuatu.
“Such measures increase the risk of impunity for the most serious crimes and threaten to erode the international rule of law, which is crucial for promoting global order and security,” they said in a joint statement Friday.
“Measures sanctioning the Court, its officials and staff, and those cooperating with it have been adopted in response to the Court carrying out its mandate in accordance with the Rome Statute.”
The statement also highlighted concerns that “sanctions could jeopardise the confidentiality of sensitive information and the safety of those involved — including victims, witnesses, and Court officials, many of whom are our nationals.”
Meanwhile the ICC has vowed to continue its judicial work. The ICC said it “stands firmly” by its personnel and the order seeks to harm its “independent and impartial” work.
“The ICC condemns the issuance by the US of an executive order seeking to impose sanctions on its officials and harm its independent and impartial judicial work.”
It added it stood by its personnel, pledging “to continue providing justice and hope to millions of innocent victims of atrocities across the world”.
More than 120 countries are members, including the UK and many European nations.
THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS - APRIL 30: A general view of the International Criminal Court (ICC) building in The Hague, Netherlands on April 30, 2024. (Photo by Selman Aksunger/Anadolu via Getty Images)