United Nations special rapporteurs condemned the US sanctions imposed on International Criminal Court (ICC) officials. The rapporteurs called for the immediate removal of the sanctions imposed on ICC President Tomoko Akane and senior court officials.
The US imposed sanctions on Akane and Abdoulaye Seye, one of the court’s senior officials, on August 18, 2025. This brought the total number of current or former ICC officials placed on the sanctions list to 11.
Call for urgent action to protect the court
UN special rapporteurs said ICC member states must take determined and urgent steps to protect the court from unlawful interference. States were also urged to act without delay to reduce the impact of the sanctions on judges, prosecutors and court staff.
The rapporteurs said the pressure facing the ICC and its staff could not be addressed by the court alone. They said the ICC’s work on behalf of the institution and humanity was facing an unprecedented attack.
Sanctions on Albanese also criticized
The statement also condemned US sanctions imposed on Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on Palestine. Contacts with US authorities are continuing over these concerns.
Sanctions followed ICC decisions
On November 21, 2024, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over war crimes allegedly committed in Gaza.
Following that decision, the US placed ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan on its sanctions list in June 2025. In August 2025, Washington imposed sanctions on four more court officials, citing their “anti-Israel stance” as the basis for the decision.
US President Donald Trump has also repeatedly criticized the ICC and called on allied countries to withdraw from the court.
How special rapporteurs work
UN special rapporteurs are among the independent mechanisms operating under the special procedures of the UN Human Rights Council. The experts monitor situations in different countries and thematic issues in various regions, gathering information in the process.
Special rapporteurs are not considered UN staff and carry out their mandates independently and on a voluntary basis.
