The Capitol building in Washington. UN experts urge the US Senate to reject the bill on sanctions against the International Criminal Court Human rights
UN experts have called on the US Senate to reject a bill that would impose sanctions on and defund the International Criminal Court (ICC). The bill passed the US House of Representatives on Thursday after the ICC issued arrest warrants for Israeli leaders accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Experts expressed concern after the US House of Representatives on Thursday (January 9) passed a document providing for sanctions against the ICC following the court’s decision to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
For the law to come into force, it must also be supported by the upper house of the US Congress (the Senate) and the country’s president.
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“It is shocking to see a country that considers itself a defender of the rule of law attempting to obstruct an independent and impartial tribunal created by the international community to ensure accountability,” the experts said.
“Threats against the ICC feed a culture of impunity. They make a mockery of years of efforts to uphold the rule of law over violence and atrocities,” they warned.
The experts expressed concern that the United States was trying to obstruct the work of the court, which was created to ensure justice and combat impunity. They emphasized that the ICC was created to prosecute serious international crimes such as genocide and war crimes, and its work is based on the rule of law.
The bill, called the “Counteracting an Illegitimate Court Act,” would impose sanctions on court staff if they investigate or prosecute US citizens or their allies, including Israel. It would also deprive the court of US funding.
“Threats against the court undermine confidence in the international justice system and weaken the pursuit of justice,” the experts said, calling on the United States and other countries to respect the court’s independence and impartiality. The human rights activists have reported their concerns to the US authorities.
The statement was signed by Margaret Satterthwaite, Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Francesca Albanese, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, and Georgios Katrougalos, independent expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order.
We remind you that the special rapporteurs are not employees of the organization and do not receive a salary from the organization for their activities.