By Anthony Deutsch
THE HAGUE (Reuters) – The president of the Worldwide Legal Courtroom on Monday mentioned threats dealing with the establishment, together with potential U.S. sanctions and Russian warrants for workers members, “jeopardise its very existence”.
Talking at an annual convention of the courtroom’s 124 members, President Decide Tomoko Akane didn’t identify Russia or america, however referred to them as everlasting members of the U.N. Safety Council.
“It’s clear by any metric, by any benchmark, this assembly is at a pivotal time,” ICC prosecutor Karim Khan mentioned in his speech on the opening of the convention.
“We are facing unprecedented challenges. We see civil society victims, survivors, humanity at large, I think have unprecedented expectations.”
Russia issued an arrest warrant for ICC chief Prosecutor Karim Khan two months after the courtroom in The Hague issued a warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The USA Home of Representatives in June handed a invoice to sanction the courtroom in response to Khan’s request for an arrest warrant in opposition to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence chief, Yoav Gallant.
“The Court has been subjected to attacks seeking to undermine its legitimacy and ability to administer justice and realise international law and fundamental rights; coercive measures, threats, pressure and acts of sabotage,” Akane mentioned, including that extra warrants had been issued in opposition to courtroom staff.
The ICC can be “being threatened with draconian economic sanctions from institutions of another permanent member of the Security Council as if it was a terrorist organisation. These measures would rapidly undermine the Court’s operations in all situations and cases and jeopardise its very existence,” she mentioned.
Whereas america shouldn’t be a member of the courtroom, the world’s preeminent army and monetary energy may undermine the ICC diplomatically and politically and with monetary sanctions concentrating on its workers.
She mentioned the courtroom firmly rejects any “attempt to influence (its) independence and impartiality. We resolutely dismiss efforts to politicise our function. We have and always will comply only with the law, under all circumstances.”
The courtroom was established in 2002 to prosecute battle crimes, crimes in opposition to humanity, genocide and the crime of aggression when member states are unwilling or unable to take action themselves.
It will possibly prosecute crimes dedicated by nationals of member states or on the territory of member states by different actors. Its price range for 2024 was about 187 million euros ($197 million).