Four prominent US human rights organisations have accused the Trump administration of using its sanctions regime against the International Criminal Court (ICC) to undermine global efforts to prosecute war crimes and crimes against humanity.
In a lawsuit filed in federal court on Tuesday, the American Friends Service Committee, the Center for Constitutional Rights, Human Rights Watch, and the Open Society Institute argued that the administration's targeting of the ICC, and those affiliated with it, constitutes a “blatantly illegal attack on international justice”.
The suit challenges a February 2025 executive order by the Trump administration, which authorised sanctions on ICC officials, judges, and others supporting its investigation into alleged Israeli crimes in Palestine. This is one of 18 investigations the Netherlands-based tribunal is overseeing.
The lawsuit claims that these actions undermine access to justice for victims of human rights violations and criminalise the work of those collaborating with the court. Individuals under US sanctions for their work with the ICC have reportedly faced travel bans, had bank accounts closed or frozen, and been denied access to digital services.
The sanctions have also reportedly impacted rights groups, including the plaintiffs, by hindering their ability to represent victims before the court, make legal and policy submissions, or collaborate with sanctioned Palestinian groups on litigation, advocacy, research, and humanitarian aid efforts.