Quick Read
- UN Special Rapporteur Margaret Satterthwaite urged the US to lift sanctions on ICC judges and prosecutors.
- The call follows new sanctions issued on Dec 18, 2025, bringing the total sanctioned ICC personnel to ten.
- Satterthwaite emphasized that sanctions undermine international justice, judicial independence, and send a ‘chilling message’ to victims.
- The UN official also expressed concern over sanctions targeting NGOs and potential fear among victims.
- The U.S. sanctions regime allows for civil and criminal penalties, including imprisonment, for those involved with sanctioned entities.
NEW YORK (Azat TV) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Margaret Satterthwaite, has called on the United States to immediately withdraw sanctions imposed on judges and prosecutors of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and to repeal Executive Order 14203, issued in February 2025. This urgent appeal, made public on January 27, 2026, follows a fresh round of sanctions designations on December 18, 2025, which brought the total number of sanctioned ICC justice personnel to ten.
Satterthwaite emphasized that these sanctions represent a direct challenge to the foundational principles of international justice established by the Rome Statute, as well as the precedents set by the Nuremberg and Tokyo trials. She stated that such measures strike “at the very heart of the promise… that no atrocity would go unanswered by international justice,” signaling a significant concern for the global framework of accountability.
Impact on International Justice and Judicial Independence
The Special Rapporteur’s call comes ahead of the opening of the ICC’s judicial year, a period traditionally marked by renewed commitment to international law. Satterthwaite highlighted the detrimental message these sanctions send to victims of atrocities and their advocates, who rely on the ICC’s judges and prosecutors for accountability, repair, and reparation. She described the sanctions as sending a “chilling message” that could deter individuals and organizations from seeking justice.
Her concerns extend beyond the direct impact on ICC personnel. Satterthwaite expressed alarm that several non-governmental organizations have also faced sanctions, and victims themselves may fear punishment under the extensive U.S. sanctions regime. The regime allows for severe civil and criminal penalties, including potential imprisonment, which could effectively obstruct access to justice for those most in need.
Obstruction of Justice and Rule of Law
Satterthwaite underscored that judges, prosecutors, and all individuals engaged in upholding the rule of law and ensuring accountability for international crimes must be shielded from intimidation, reprisals, or punishment for fulfilling their professional duties. She firmly stated that ‘threats of prosecution, or administrative, economic or other coercive measures targeting them for the legitimate exercise of their functions, are an unacceptable assault on judicial independence, a deliberate obstruction of justice, and a grave threat to the rule of law and international accountability.’
This position reinforces the principle that judicial bodies, particularly those dealing with grave international crimes, must operate without external pressure from powerful states. The imposition of sanctions on judicial officers is widely seen as an attempt to influence or impede the court’s work, thereby undermining its impartiality and effectiveness.
Call for International Action
Having communicated her deep concerns directly to U.S. authorities, Satterthwaite has now urged the broader international community to take decisive action. Her plea is for global solidarity to ensure that justice personnel, regardless of their institutional affiliation, are able to perform their professional functions “without intimidation, hindrance, harassment or interference.” This collective call highlights the shared responsibility of states to uphold international law and protect the mechanisms designed to enforce it.
The ongoing dispute between the United States and the ICC has been a point of contention for years, particularly regarding the court’s jurisdiction over U.S. citizens or allies. The current sanctions, however, mark an escalation by targeting the individuals who serve the court, rather than just challenging its jurisdiction. This approach has drawn widespread criticism from international legal bodies and human rights organizations, who view it as a direct attack on the integrity and independence of international justice institutions.
The UN Special Rapporteur’s strong condemnation of the U.S. sanctions highlights a critical juncture for international law, where the principle of judicial independence is being tested by state sovereignty, potentially setting a precedent that could weaken global accountability mechanisms for mass atrocities.