European Parliament honours ICC with prestigious Sakharov Prize amid unprecedented threats to international justice
Established by the European Parliament in 1988, the Sakharov Prize is awarded annually to individuals and organisations who have made an exceptional contribution to the defence of human rights and fundamental freedoms. Past laureates include Kofi Annan and the staff of the United Nations, Dr Denis Mukwege, for his work with survivors of conflict-related sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; Nadia Murad and Lamiya Aji Bashar, Yazidi survivors of ISIS atrocities whose advocacy has been central to efforts to secure accountability for genocide.
The Coalition for the ICC welcomes the award is an important recognition of the ICC’s role in promoting and protecting human rights and the rule of law around the world by working towards justice and redress for victims of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.
The award comes against a backdrop of grave attacks against the Court’s independence and civil society organisations supporting its work, including escalating attacks by the United States (US) since February 2025, the impact of which is documented in the CICC Report ‘Criminalising Accountability'. In July 2026, the US announced a new campaign to “dismantle the ICC brick by brick”, culminating in the ICC being designated as an institution under US Executive Order 14203, on 9 October 2026. The CICC, together with hundreds of organisations and individuals, has called for States Parties to take a strong stand and concrete action to support the institution they created more than 30 years ago, and civil society organisations supporting its work.
“The support expressed by Members of the European Parliament for the ICC and its officials sends an important message in defence of the rule of law in the face of these unlawful attacks.” said Zoe Paris, CICC Advocacy Director. “It is extremely worrying that despite sanctions against the Court, the European Commission continues to delay the activation of the EU Blocking Statute. The rule of law, the protection of civic space and the ability to victims to access justice is at stake.”
The European Parliament highlights how “The blocking statute protects European operators, regardless of their size or sector of activity, by nullifying within the EU the effect of any foreign judicial decision based on foreign laws, also enabling them to seek compensation in court for damages caused by the extraterritorial application of foreign laws.”
Chloé Ridel, member of the EU Parliament who lead this campaign stresses that “This is historic! The European Parliament is sending a message of hope and resistance to Donald Trump: you sanction international justice, we honour it. Now, Europe has no choice: it must finally take action to protect the Court and activate the EU Blocking Statute.”
The European Union must now turn its commitment to international justice into concrete action, words of solidarity are no longer enough. Time is of essence, the European Commission must activate the EU Blocking Statute, Council Regulation (EC) No 2271/96, countering the risk that non-US service providers, including banks, may stop rendering their services to the ICC out of fear of penalties or reprisals from the US Treasury. Such action would send an unequivocal message that the EU will not stand by sanctions that undermine the independence and functioning of the Court and threaten the work and the very existence of civil society organisations. The EU must match its words with action and demonstrate that its commitment to accountability, the rule of law, and the preservation of civic space remains unwavering, particularly when the institutions upholding these principles are under attack.
© Image: Illustration of European Parliament logo, International Criminal Court logo, and International Criminal Court Headquarters in The Hague.
