US Sanctions on ICC Judges Draw Sharp International Condemnation
A legal expert has condemned sanctions imposed by the United States on officials of the International Criminal Court. The court currently counts 125 member states yet remains non-universal because three permanent members of the UN Security Council have not ratified the Rome Statute. This situation allows those powers to block investigations into crimes committed on their territory. The speaker stressed that the ICC provides an essential avenue for victims who cannot obtain justice in their own countries. The expert visited the court and expressed confidence in its staff despite external pressures. Strong international support was urged to overcome these obstacles and advance the goal of a truly universal criminal court.