UN Rights Chief Condemns US Sanctions on ICC Officials
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on Wednesday condemned the latest US sanctions against officials of the International Criminal Court (ICC), calling the measures “unacceptable” and urging countries to protect court personnel targeted by such actions.
The United States on Tuesday imposed sanctions on ICC President Tomoko Akane of Japan and Senior Trial Lawyer Abdoulaye Seye of Senegal, in the latest move by Washington against the Hague-based court.
The Trump administration has accused the ICC of being a “corrupt and fatally politicised” institution.
Türk joined international criticism of the sanctions, with his office saying the measures against the ICC president and a prosecution staff member “must be lifted.”
He also renewed his call on states to defend international institutions established to uphold human rights and the rule of law.
Türk further urged countries to protect court officials targeted by what he described as reprisals.
The United States is not a party to the treaty that established the ICC in 2002 and has previously imposed sanctions on several of the court’s officials.
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