The sanctions imposed on August 20, 2025, by the US administration on two judges and two deputy prosecutors of the International Criminal Court confirm that a systemic attack is underway against the Court and the overall system protecting human rights and the rule of law globally.
These measures follow those already applied to four judges and the Chief Prosecutor in June and February 2025, respectively, pursuant to Executive Order 14203 stating that the “ICC has engaged in illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America” and its “close ally Israel”.
By targeting ICC officials in retaliation for fulfilling their mandate, the sanctions pose an unacceptable threat to the individuals concerned and to the independence of the Court, undermining its effective functioning and producing a chilling effect that hinders individuals and civil society organisations from cooperating with the ICC.
MEDEL notes with great concern that this attack is launched in response to ICC’s activities concerning serious crimes, in a context where the integrity of the Rome Statute system is being challenged as well by States Parties not fulfilling their obligations to cooperate. This disturbing scenario has been significantly worsened by Hungary’s withdrawal from ICC, in disregard of EU’s commitment to achieving universality and full implementation of the Rome Statute.
The stakes are very high and concern the very principle that law must prevail over force and violence.
MEDEL wishes to stress that ICC is a cornerstone of the international justice system to which, after the horrors of past conflicts, we have entrusted the task of holding perpetrators of the most heinous crimes to account and protecting victims.
While expressing its full support and solidarity with the ICC officials targeted by the sanctions,
MEDEL calls on Member States to remain firm and united in defending the independence and authority of ICC by
- taking concrete measures to protect from attacks and external pressure the ICC, its elected officials and staff, as well as all those striving to uphold the principles of international criminal justice,
- ensuring full cooperation and effective support so that the Court can fulfil its mandate.
August 29, 2025
MEDEL Statement on ICC (.pdf 151kb)