His appeal comes one day after four other members of the court-two judges and two assistant prosecutors-were slapped with sanctions in the context of efforts to investigate alleged war crimes committed by the United States and Israel.
This follows the sanctions imposed earlier on four other judges and the CPI prosecutor. The measures imposed could include blocking of financial access to property or assets in the United States, as well as for travel prohibitions.
“Assault against the rule of law”
“” The incessant intensification of American reprisals against international institutions and their staff must cease »» said Mr. Türk.
“The sanction of judges and prosecutors at national, regional or international levels, to fulfill their mandate in accordance with international law standards, is An assault against the rule of law and corrodes justice. “”
The sanctions arise from an executive decree signed by US President Donald Trump in February in response to the publication of the Tribunal supported by the UN issuing arrest terms against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
The ICC also probe war crimes that would have been committed in Afghanistan by all parties during the years of conflict, including the United States, following the country’s allied invasion in October 2001.
Neither the United States nor Israel are part of the status of Rome, the treaty that established the ICC.
It is time for countries to intervene
Mr. Türk called for the withdrawal of sanctions against CPI staff and they targeting the special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory.
The independent expert, Francesca Albanese, receives his term from the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. For more details, read our story here.
“In the meantime, I call for states to take immediate measures to protect them all, in particular by taking measures to encourage companies operating in their jurisdiction not to implement the sanctions against these people,” said Türk.
“” States must intervene to defend the institutions they have created to maintain and defend human rights and the rule of law. Those who work to document, investigate and continue serious violations of international law should not have to work in fear. »»
On the International Criminal Court
The ICC investigates and tries individuals accused of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression. Read our explanator here.
Some of the cases include situations in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Libya.
In March 2023, the court issued an arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin in the context of alleged war crimes concerning the expulsion and “illegal transfer” of the children of occupied Ukraine.
The ICC was created in 2002 and is based in The Hague, in the Netherlands.
Originally published at Almouwatin.com
