The International Criminal Court has been awarded the European Union’s top human rights prize at a time when it faces strong pressure from the United States. The Sakharov Prize was announced on Thursday by European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, who praised the court’s work in upholding international law and justice.
ICC President Tomoko Akane thanked the European Parliament for the recognition. She said the prize carries special meaning while the court and its officials confront unprecedented challenges. The award comes just weeks after the United States announced sanctions designed to disrupt the court’s daily operations.
President Donald Trump’s administration has vowed to dismantle the ICC “brick by brick.” The anger stems from an arrest warrant issued by ICC judges for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over alleged crimes in Gaza. Trump has also criticised the recent Nobel Peace Prize given to former ICC judge Navi Pillay, calling the decision disgraceful.
The European Union has already declared its support for the court. EU chief Ursula von der Leyen stated that the ICC must be free to carry out its mission independently and without pressure or intimidation. Brussels is using the six-month delay before the US sanctions take effect to try to persuade Washington to change course. Officials are also considering a “blocking statute” that would protect the court from the impact of American measures.
The Sakharov Prize, named after Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov, is awarded each year to individuals or organisations that defend human rights and democracy. This year’s finalists included Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu and Iranian twin sisters Taraneh and Romina Rahimi, who have been prosecuted for taking part in anti-government protests.
An official award ceremony is scheduled for December. Previous high-profile winners include Venezuelan opposition figure Maria Corina Machado, the late Russian critic Alexei Navalny and the people of Ukraine.
For the ICC the prize offers a clear political signal of European backing. At a moment when its judges and prosecutors face travel bans and financial restrictions from the United States, the recognition underlines the value many countries still place on independent international justice.
The decision may further strain relations between Brussels and Washington. Yet for supporters of the court it serves as a public affirmation that efforts to investigate war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide remain essential even under intense political pressure.
