Despite US sanctions, ICC vows to keep working to bring justice to victims

Following sanctions imposed against its officials by United States President Donald Trump, the International Criminal Court (ICC) vowed to continue its work as a court of last resort against leaders in nations where atrocities against humanity had been committed.

In a statement on Tuesday night, the Hague-based tribunal denounced the US sanctions against its chief prosecutor Karim Khan and asked nation-signatories to the Rome Statute, which established the ICC, to “stand united” for justice.

“The court pledges to continue carrying out its judicial mandate in the interest of millions of innocent victims of atrocities,” the ICC said. “The court calls upon its 125 states parties, civil society and all nations of the world to stand united for international justice.”

Citing lack of jurisdiction, Trump issued an executive order on Feb. 6 “unequivocally opposing” any actions by the ICC against the United States and its ally Israel, who is also not a signatory to the Rome Statute.

Not welcome

As a consequence, he directed the blocking of property and assets of Khan as well as the suspension of entry into the United States of ICC officials, staff, agents and their immediate family members, noting that their arrival “would be detrimental to the interests” of the United States.

For former Justice Secretary and Sen. Leila de Lima, the ICC “remains [the] only hope for justice” in countries like the Philippines, where the thousands of killings in the name of the so-called war on drugs under the leadership of former President Rodrigo Duterte are being investigated by the international tribunal.

“Filipinos must join the world in support of the ICC especially now that the Trump administration has imposed sanctions on Khan,” said De Lima, who is running as the first nominee of Mamamayang Liberal party list.

She noted that the sanctions on Khan would “frustrate our efforts to finally realize that hope.”

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In a statement sent to the Inquirer on Wednesday, the Office of the Prosecutor headed by Khan said it was “continuing the independent and impartial exercise of its mandate across all situations.”

It added that in cooperation with other ICC entities, the prosecutor’s office was taking “extensive measures to ensure the continuity of all relevant operations and services in the face of sanctions.”

The Philippines disengaged from the treaty in 2018 upon the orders of Duterte.