UK, Canada, Denmark and Others Rally Behind ICC After US Sanctions

What the report says

Eight countries including the United Kingdom, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the Netherlands have publicly backed the International Criminal Court after the United States announced planned sanctions against the tribunal. In a joint statement issued on October 9, the governments said they support the court’s independence, impartiality and integrity, and warned that sanctions could hinder its ability to investigate and prosecute the gravest international crimes.

According to the report, the foreign ministers said they disagreed with the US move and were concerned about the impact on ICC staff and their families. The group said it would keep supporting the court and continue discussions with countries outside the Rome Statute, while also defending the rules-based international system. British Energy Secretary Ed Miliband separately repeated London’s backing for the court, saying the ICC should be able to continue its work.

The confrontation follows US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s announcement of sanctions on October 9. Rubio argued that the court had gone beyond its mandate and rejected ICC jurisdiction over American citizens, military personnel and political leaders. The article says the US is not a party to the Rome Statute and has long opposed the court’s reach over non-member states.

The report also notes growing tension with Uganda, where Ambassador Adonia Ayebare said the ICC had become too focused on African officials and warned that Uganda could leave the court if it investigates or indicts Ugandans. Uganda ratified the treaty in 2002 and earlier referred the Lord’s Resistance Army case to the ICC.