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UN's Guterres seriously concerned by US sanctions on ICC

From The Straits Times · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed serious concern over the U.S. decision to impose sanctions on International Criminal Court (ICC) President Tomoko Akane and a senior trial lawyer.
  • The U.N. spokesperson stated that while the UN and ICC are separate, the U.N. views the court as a vital pillar of international criminal justice.
  • The U.S. sanctions are part of an ongoing campaign against the ICC, which was established in 2002 to prosecute war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is deeply concerned by the United States' recent decision to impose sanctions on top officials of the International Criminal Court (ICC), including its President Tomoko Akane and a senior trial lawyer.

U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric conveyed Guterres's serious concern during a regular U.N. briefing in New York. He noted that this designation, along with previous sanctions against other ICC employees, is troubling. Dujarric emphasized the U.N.'s perspective on the court's importance, stating that while the United Nations and the ICC operate as separate institutions with distinct mandates, the U.N. regards the ICC as "a key pillar of international criminal justice."

The Secretary-General expresses serious concern about this designation, as well as the ongoing designation of other International Criminal Court employees.

— Stephane DujarricU.N. spokesperson relaying Secretary-General Guterres's reaction to the U.S. sanctions.

The U.S. sanctions, imposed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, represent a significant escalation in the Trump administration's campaign against the The Hague-based court. The ICC, established in 2002 by the international community, is mandated to prosecute individuals for war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity.

a key pillar of international criminal justice.

— Stephane DujarricU.N. spokesperson describing the International Criminal Court's role.
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Originally published by The Straits Times. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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