The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Margaret Satterwaite, described the sanctions imposed by US President Donald Trump on the International Criminal Court as a direct attack on the international justice system.
In a press statement on Monday, Satterwitt discussed the inclusion of the court's prosecutor, Karim Khan, on the US sanctions list, the repercussions of these sanctions on the court's work, and the measures that member states must take to respond to this step.
"The ICC was established to ensure the rule of law in the face of conflict and violence," Satterwit explained.
She considered that "targeting an institution tasked with investigating the most serious international crimes, and punishing its senior officials through sanctions, is a direct attack on the rule of law and efforts to combat impunity."
She explained that "the impact of the sanctions will become more apparent in the coming months," adding that Trump's decision "allows for the imposition of severe sanctions on members of the court and its employees."
“So far, only Attorney General Karim Khan has been targeted, but the implications of these sanctions are much broader. For example, any financial transactions related to the court within the US banking system could be frozen, and visa restrictions could prevent him from carrying out his normal duties, such as traveling to different countries or meeting with UN officials,” she continued.
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UN rapporteur: Trump's sanctions against the ICC obstruct international justice