No Peace Without Justice (NPWJ) condemns in the strongest possible terms the new unlawful sanctions imposed by the United States against sitting judges and deputy prosecutors of the International Criminal Court (ICC), as a continued grave assault to the very foundations of international justice, accountability and the rule of law that are essential for peace and security worldwide.
The United States has chosen coercion over cooperation, intimidation and retaliation over legal norms. It is past way time for the EU and the international community to speak with clarity and resolve and stand together in defending the pillars of the global justice system, demonstrating with concrete measures their unwavering support for the ICC, its independence and its staff and ensuring they can continue their vital work without fear of reprisal.
In particular, NPWJ reiterates its call for the immediate enforcement of the EU’s blocking statute (Council Regulation (EC) No 2271/96) to protect the Court from external pressure and political obstruction hindering its ability to deliver accountability where national systems fail.
This is not time for equivocation or silence which can only embolden aggressors and feed impunity for the most serious crimes under international law.
