By Anjali Sharma
UNITED NATIONS – The International Criminal Court Judges on Thursday expressed solidarity with their colleagues who have recently been sanctioned by the United States Government, described the move as “coercive measures aimed at undermining the independence of the judiciary.”
They said in a statement issued in New York that “The Judges stand united and will continue to exercise their functions independently, impartially and conscientiously, fulfilling the demands of the rule of law”.
US announced sanctions on 6 June against four judges from Benin, Peru, Slovenia and Uganda.
The justices are overseeing a 2020 case which alleges war crimes in Afghanistan committed by the US and Afghan armies and the 2024 ICC arrest warrants issued for sitting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.
UN Human Rights Chief Volter Türk said that he was “deeply disturbed” by these sanctions, arguing that they corroded international governance and justice.
The ICC is an independent judicial body established under the Rome Statute, adopted in 1998. Although not part of the United Nations, the ICC works closely with it under a cooperative framework.
ICC Judges said that they decide, and will continue to decide, cases based on facts and without regard to threats, restrictions or improper influence issued “from any quarter or for any reason.”
“The Judges reaffirm that they are equal in the performance of their functions and that they will always uphold the principle of equality before the law,” it concluded
