World · Europe · 4 hrs ago
ICC president says US sanctions will not stop the court
ICC President Tomoko Akane addressed the UN remotely on Monday because of US sanctions against the court.
She accused President Donald Trump’s administration of trying to obstruct international justice by imposing penalties on ICC officials and the institution.
The United States has targeted the court over investigations involving the US and its allies, including Israel.
The ICC prosecutes war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide when national authorities are unwilling or unable to act.
The United States is not a member of the court.
Akane urged all 193 UN members to take concrete action to defend it, not only the 125 countries that belong to the ICC.
She said the court would continue its work independently, while the European Union and other supporters voiced backing at the UN.
ICC President Tomoko Akane said U.S. sanctions would not stop the court from carrying out its mandate.
Akane made the remarks remotely to the U.N. General Assembly on Monday, citing U.S. sanctions.
She urged all 193 U.N. member nations to take action in defense of the court.
The Trump administration has imposed sanctions on ICC officials and targeted the court over investigations into the United States and its allies, including Israel.
The United States is not a party to the ICC, which was established to prosecute serious crimes when countries are unwilling or unable to do so.
- Who
- ICC President Tomoko Akane and the Trump administration.
- What
- Akane said U.S. sanctions would not stop the court from carrying out its mandate. She urged U.N. member nations to defend the ICC.
- When
- Monday, November 2, 2026.
- Where
- Akane addressed the U.N. General Assembly remotely.
- Why
- The Trump administration imposed sanctions on the ICC over investigations into the United States and its allies, including Israel.
ICC
Trump administration
Purpose of sanctions
ICC
The court says it will continue its work independently and impartially, based on law and evidence.
Trump administration
The administration says sanctions will cut off the court’s resources and cripple its ability to act against the United States.
The ICC’s work
ICC
The court says it acts for victims of grave crimes and should be defended by U.N. member nations.
Trump administration
The administration has targeted the court over investigations into the United States and its allies, including Israel.
The ICC was established to prosecute war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide when countries are unwilling or unable to do so.
The Trump administration announced sweeping new sanctions on the court, the same day the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Navi Pillay.
The Trump administration targeted the entire court as part of its campaign to dismantle the tribunal.
Akane addressed the U.N. General Assembly remotely and said the court would continue its work despite U.S. sanctions.
- ICC president
- Tomoko Akane
- U.N. membership
- 193 member nations
- ICC membership
- 125 countries
- U.S. status
- Not a party to the ICC
- Latest sanctions announcement
- Oct. 9
What people are saying
The court will continue to fully discharge its mandate with independence and impartiality, acting only on the basis of the law and the evidence, for the sake of the countless victims of grave crimes.
to take concrete action, individually and collectively, in defense of the court.
The contrast could not be starker.
will ban transactions with this rogue court, cutting off their resources and crippling its ability to operate against us.