We stand by our officials, ICC tells US

The International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague said it stands firmly by its staff and officials and remains unwavering in its commitment to discharging, independently and impartially, the mandate bestowed upon it by the Rome Statute and the states that are party to it notwithstanding threats from the United States Government.

ICC in a statement issued yesterday by its Spokesperson, Fadi El Abdallah, expressed “regret at the announcement of further threats and coercive actions, including financial measures, against the Court and its officials, made earlier today (yesterday) by the Government of the United States.

“These are the latest in a series of unprecedented attacks on the ICC, an independent international judicial institution, as well as on the Rome Statute system of international criminal justice, which reflects the commitment and cooperation of the ICC’s 123 States Parties, representing all regions of the world.

“These attacks constitute an escalation and an unacceptable attempt to interfere with the rule of law and the Court’s judicial proceedings.

They are announced with the declared aim of influencing the actions of ICC officials in the context of the Court’s independent and objective investigations and impartial judicial proceedings,” the statement said.

According to the statement, an attack on the ICC also represents an attack against the interests of victims of atrocities, for many of whom the Court represents the last hope for justice.