The International Criminal Court and its staff have received the European Union's Sakharov Prize, the bloc's top human rights honor. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola announced the award on Thursday at the parliament in Strasbourg, France, where the news drew a standing ovation.
The prize came days after the Trump administration announced sweeping new sanctions on the court, which is based in The Hague. The measures are part of Washington's campaign against the tribunal over investigations involving the United States and its allies, including Israel. The sanctions cut the court's access to US-based financial services, technology companies and the use of US dollars, and set a six-month period for US companies and individuals that do business with the court to wind that business down.
Metsola said the European Union is built on respect for multilateralism and international institutions, and that the prize recognizes the court's work in upholding international law and justice. ICC President Tomoko Akane of Japan welcomed the award, saying it comes when the court and its officials face unprecedented challenges and that it reaffirms the importance of independent judicial institutions and of those who uphold international law.
The annual award, named after Soviet dissident and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Andrei Sakharov, was created in 1988 to honor individuals or groups who defend human rights and basic freedoms. The ICC and its officials were nominated by the Socialists and Democrats group in the European Parliament. The group, which brings together center-left parties across Europe, said it was proud to have put forward their candidacy at a time when international justice is under attack. The winner is chosen by the parliament's president and senior EU lawmakers from candidates nominated by political groups. The assembly says the award is the highest tribute paid by the European Union to human rights work.
The ICC opened in 2002 as a court of last resort for senior leaders it deems responsible for crimes that, under its founding treaty, deeply shock the conscience of humanity. It has jurisdiction over war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and the crime of aggression.
In a statement after their summit last week, leaders of the 27-nation bloc said they deeply regret the sanctions and urge the United States to reverse the latest measures. They noted that the six-month delay creates space for diplomacy and expressed hope that the measures can be reversed. If diplomacy fails, they insisted on the EU's readiness to take all necessary measures. They tasked the European Commission to take all appropriate initiatives to help protect the ICC and limit the impact of the sanctions, specifically so EU companies can continue providing services to the court. One possible step is the EU blocking statute, which could be used to protect European court staff and possibly the Dutch-based court by preventing European companies from complying with the US measures.
The other shortlisted candidates were imprisoned Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu and twins Taraneh and Romina Rahimi, who are being held in prison for taking part in demonstrations against the Iranian government. Last year's prize went to journalists Andrzej Poczobut and Mzia Amaghlobeli, imprisoned in Belarus and Georgia. Metsola said at the time that their courage had made them symbols of the struggle for freedom and democracy. Several Sakharov laureates, including Nelson Mandela, Malala Yousafzai, Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad, later won the Nobel Peace Prize. Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, who won the Nobel Peace Prize last year, received the Sakharov Prize in 2024.