Stop US Attacks on the ICC

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is under attack from the US government. At risk are the rights of victims and survivors of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes to seek truth, justice and reparations when states are unable or unwilling to deliver justice themselves. The future of the ICC, and of international justice, will depend on people and governments who are willing to defend the Court from US bullying.

What’s the problem?

The US government wants to ensure that nationals of the US and its allies are not subject to accountability. This is why it is trying to destroy the International Criminal Court. The ICC is an independent, and impartial, international court that exists to ensure that nobody, including heads of state or senior military leaders, is above the law. By imposing sanctions, the Trump administration seeks to completely isolate the Court and prevent it from accessing essential services, threatening its ability to function.

In recent years the ICC has issued arrest warrants against Taliban Supreme Leader Haibatullah Akhundzada, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Commander in Chief of the Lord’s Resistance Army Joseph Kony, highest commander of the al-Qassam Brigades Mohammed Deif, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, among others. Former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte will go on trial this month for crimes against humanity. This attack on the ICC seeks to prevent victims and survivors of the world’s gravest crimes from accessing truth, justices, and reparations.

The ICC brings power to justice for ordinary people. People that are pursuing justice and reparations for the harms they have suffered. Where justice is impossible, the ICC serves as a last resort.

The court giving its verdict makes me feel like a human being again.

Former child soldier in the DRC

A female victim and survivor of forced marriage in Uganda shared her relief at the conviction of Dominic Ongwen, a former Lord’s Resistance Army commander “The court has said clearly that we were the victims, not the criminals. Our suffering has been recognized by the world.”

This is why we must protect the ICC. We have the power to defend its fearless promise to bring perpetrators of crimes under international law to justice. No one is above the law, and governments must not allow the US and its allies to attack justice through bullying and power.

What you can do to help

Call on your government to defend international justice and protect the ICC and its operations from the US-imposed sanctions.