On 11 June, Victim Advocates International joined Amnesty International, the ACLU, HRW, and 55 other organisations in expressing our concern about US actions against the ICC and its personnel.  

The Trump administration has implemented an executive order to authorise sanctions against ICC officials seeking to enter or live in the US. These sanctions are directly aimed at deterring the Court’s proceedings and jurisdiction.  The executive order follows the launch of an ICC investigation into US forces in Afghanistan for suspicion of war crimes and crimes against humanity. This inquiry is the first time the Court has been permitted to investigate US forces.  

The ICC has denounced the Trump administration’s move to implement punitive measures, saying “an attack on the ICC also represents an attack against the interests of victims of atrocity crimes, for many of whom the Court represents the last hope for justice”. These sanctions are a part of efforts to protect US impunity in conflicts around the world, which often leave victims with no opportunity for redress.  

VAI continues to work in the interests of victims, condemning any policy that prioritises state impunity over realising justice for victims. We work at the highest policy levels to amplify survivors’ voices and ensure their needs are at the centre of the fight for justice.  

See the petition here  

Read more on US sanctions against International Criminal Court officials