UN experts: The American draft law against the International Criminal Court reinforces the culture of impunity

In a statement issued today, Friday, experts* said that “It is astonishing to see a country that considers itself a champion of the rule of law trying to thwart the actions of an independent and impartial tribunal established by the international community, to impede accountability.” They warned that the threats were against the court “It reinforces a culture of impunity and makes a mockery of the decades-long quest to put law above force and atrocities.”

They pointed out that the ICC is the legacy of the Nuremberg Trials against senior Nazi officials, and the commitment to never allow heinous crimes, such as those committed during World War II, to go unpunished.

The bill, titled the “Anti-Sharia Court Act,” which would take effect 60 days after its passage, would punish any individual who investigates, arrests, detains, or prosecutes U.S. citizens or an official from countries allied with the United States, including: Including Israel. It also aims to cancel any funding allocated by the United States to the International Criminal Court and prohibits any future funding.

In this context, the experts said: “Imposing sanctions on justice officials for fulfilling their professional responsibilities constitutes a flagrant violation of human rights, and strikes at the heart of judicial independence and the rule of law. Passing a bill that creates a justice blind spot in relation to certain countries not only legitimizes double standards and impunity, but also fundamentally undermines The spirit of universality that underpins the international justice system can be reformed. Such actions erode public confidence in the integrity and independence of justice and set a dangerous precedent, politicizing judicial functions and weakening global commitment. With accountability and fairness.”

The experts urged American lawmakers to support the rule of law and the independence of judges and lawyers, and called on all countries to respect the independence of the International Criminal Court as a judicial institution and protect the independence and impartiality of those who work within it.

*The experts are:

Margaret Satterthwaite, Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers;

Francesca Albanese, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967;

George Catrogalos, Independent Expert on Strengthening a Democratic and Just International Order.