US Sanctions on ICC Undermine Rule of Law Everywhere

“Donald Trump’s reimposition of sanctions on ICC officials continues his march to make America a pariah state. In penalizing and hampering the court’s work, Trump is openly undermining its ability to prosecute and deter war crimes and crimes against humanity. Sanctioning court officials, their family members and potentially even the officials of friendly countries provides succor to brutal dictators, aggressors and other human rights abusers around the world whom he admires.

“It is not a coincidence that Trump’s move against the ICC comes just hours after he proposed that the United States carry out a crime against humanity in Gaza, while standing next to a man wanted by the court to answer for war crimes in that territory. The objective of attacking the court is to ensure absolute impunity for those, like both of them, who seek to act unrestrained by any law. 

“This latest assault by Trump on the rule of law should be resisted by seeking more, not less, accountability for those who incite, enable or commit atrocities. States that are party to the Rome Statute should reaffirm and carry out their obligations with respect to the court, including the consistent enforcement of its duly issued warrants and orders.

“American lawmakers should treat this attack on a judicial body and its officers as they do Trump’s efforts to destroy domestic institutions of justice, independent of the fact that they may disagree with certain rulings or actions of such bodies. Defending the legitimacy of the ICC is an inseparable part of the fight to protect the rule of law in the United States and around the world from the forces of autocracy and oligarchy. Those who fail to firmly oppose Trump’s attack on the court – or worse, support it – are proving themselves to be only fair-weather friends to democracy and human rights at best, or complicit in their destruction outright.”