Defending justice against intimidation: The Coalition for the ICC condemns shameful sanctions against Palestinian human rights organisations
The Coalition for the International Criminal Court condemns the decision of the United States Government to impose sanctions on Palestinian human rights organisations: Al-Haq, Al Mezan Center for Human Rights and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR). Sanctions are a tool to be used against those responsible for the most serious international crimes, not against those seeking justice. To sanction human rights organisations for their pursuit of accountability is not only a direct assault on civil society as a whole, but also a profound attack on the very foundations of the international justice system.
Targeting Palestinian civil society is an attack on justice itself
On 4 September 2025, the United States government announced new designations against Palestinian organisations, in yet another attempt to undermine the independence of the International Criminal Court and the integrity of the Rome Statute system. These sanctions follow the sanctioning of the ICC Prosecutor, the Deputy Prosecutors and six judges, in addition to another Palestinian human rights organisation, Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association (Addameer), and the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese.
The organisations targeted are longstanding advocates for justice for victims of international crimes, and they carry out this work at great personal risk. To target Al-Haq, Al Mezan and PCHR with sanctions in the current context of the ongoing investigation on the Situation of Palestine is to weaken the global pursuit of justice and to signal to perpetrators and enablers of atrocity crimes that they may act without fear of consequence, while punishing those who defend the rule of law.
These sanctions constitute an attempt to silence and discredit Palestinian civil society, but their implications reach far beyond the region. By punishing those who document violations, support victims and survivors, and lead accountability efforts, this measure strikes at the very foundation of international justice.
Civil society organisations play a vital role in documenting violations, supporting victims and survivors, and ensuring that the voices of affected communities are heard in judicial processes. Civil society and Human Rights Defenders have laid the foundation for global justice, and their continued dedication keeps the fight for justice alive. Without their voices and advocacy, the pursuit of justice would falter.
Standing in solidarity with Palestinian human rights defenders
The Coalition for the ICC condemns the new U.S. measures against Palestinian civil society in the strongest terms possible, and stands in full solidarity with Al-Haq, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, and Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, as well as with their staff and the communities they serve. These organisations stand at the frontlines of justice in Palestine and beyond, carrying out tireless and courageous work at immense personal risk. Protecting those who make the Rome Statute system work is not optional, it is a duty owed to victims of international crimes, wherever they may be.
“In these times, silence risks the collapse of the global order – and with it our shared humanity. When the principles of international law are not just ignored but egregiously violated, and when the very institutions that are meant to uphold truth, justice, and accountability are attacked, rather than protected, no people, no nation, can ever be truly safe”, state Al-Haq, Al Mezan, and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR).
Protecting those who protect justice: the time to act is NOW
The Coalition calls on the government of the United States to cease any effort, including through sanctions, to derail work of those seeking justice, and commit to supporting access to justice for all victims and survivors of serious international crimes, including before the ICC.
At the same time, the Coalition for the ICC calls upon all 125 States Parties to the Rome Statute to uphold their responsibility to safeguard victims’ access to justice and to demonstrate this commitment through decisive measures:
- Condemn these sanctions unequivocally and publicly and affirm without reservation that Palestinian civil society organisations and human rights defenders are indispensable to justice and must be protected, not punished.
- Urge the government of the United States to immediately rescind the immediately rescind the ICC related sanctions programme and cease further sanctions against those working for justice and accountability. The U.S. must halt all measures that undermine victims’ access to justice and take concrete steps towards cooperating with the Rome Statute system and supporting accountability in all situations under ICC jurisdiction.
- Strengthen national frameworks to protect civil society organisations and human rights defenders who support and cooperate with the Court, and take urgent steps to safeguard civil society organisations, including such as Al-Haq, Al Mezan, and PCHR, whose vital work for victims is being directly targeted. States Parties must also affirm clearly that human rights defenders everywhere are entitled to protection from intimidation and reprisals and must engage in coordinated diplomatic action at the UN and other international fora to reject these sanctions and defend the essential role of civil society in the fight for justice and accountability.
- Guarantee full cooperation with the ICC across all situations, equally, including by executing arrest warrants, harmonising national laws with the Rome Statute, ratifying and implementing the Agreement on Privileges and Immunities of the ICC (APIC), and concluding voluntary cooperation agreements.
- Adopt and/or implement national and regional blocking statutes, such as the European Union (EU) blocking statute that aims to shield European operators from the effects of extraterritorial sanctions. Blocking statutes and similar instruments can provide civil society, the Court and its partners with essential protection and send a powerful message that ICC member countries will not tolerate efforts to undermine the Court.
- Anticipate and address new threats by preparing protective measures to counteract the chilling effects of sanctions. In particular, States Parties must act urgently to protect Palestinian organisations targeted by these sanctions and guarantee that they can continue their essential work. With measures such as these, States can help prevent the effective closure of organisations, through frozen bank accounts, suspended websites, blocked social media platforms, or even the loss of access to email providers. Safeguarding their operational capacity is indispensable to ensuring that victims continue to have access to justice.
Justice will not be silenced
These sanctions are not only an attack on Palestinian organisations, but on the rights of victims everywhere and on the very principle that no one is above the law. At this critical moment, States Parties and the broader international community must reaffirm their unwavering commitment to the independence of the Court and to the protection of civil society.
The Coalition for the International Criminal Court stands firmly alongside civil society, human rights defenders, and all victims and survivors who demand justice for the gravest crimes of concern to humanity. In the face of pressure and intimidation, justice will not be silenced.
Standing together with Palestinian civil society
The Coalition aligns itself with the principled statements voiced across the international justice community in response to these measures. Read reactions from across the globe:
