Recording Special Briefing on the Impact of New ICC Sanctions and Strategies of Resistance

Thank you for joining us at Tuesday’s discussion on US sanctions against the ICC. If you were unable to attend, or would like to revisit the conversation, the recording is now available to watch and share with your network.  

To recap, our speakers looked at the impact of the sanctions and strategies for resistance from their expert perspectives and provided insights on how the sanctions are viewed outside the US.

Dr. Cyril Laucci, Independent Lead Defence Counsel before the ICC, discussed the preparations already underway to reduce ICC reliance on US-based services, and how the sanctions have accelerated efforts to develop greater independence in areas such as financial and IT services. He also highlighted potential legal avenues for affected ICC staff and States Parties.  

Luis Carlos Díaz, journalist, human rights defender and torture survivor, spoke from the perspective of victims and survivors of a situation currently under ICC investigation. He emphasized that national proceedings cannot replace the ICC, and weakening the Court would benefit perpetrators and leave victims and human rights defenders feel more exposed and isolated. He called on States to provide more concrete support for the ICC.  

Julie Bardèche, Senior Legal Advisor at REDRESS, explained the sanctions’ significant chilling effect on civil society, with smaller NGOs disproportionately affected. While NGOs are adapting through various measures, it diverts resources from supporting survivors and documenting crimes. Julie stressed that meaningful resilience requires systematic protection from States, regional organizations, and service providers.  

Dr. Sergey Vasiliev, Professor of International Law at Open Universiteit, The Netherlands, examined how the sanctions, from an international law perspective, constitute unlawful interference with the independence of an international court and risk fragmenting ICC membership. He advocated stronger collective action by ICC States Parties, particularly activation of the EU Blocking Statute, alongside other legal and diplomatic responses.  

The Special Briefing was moderated by Kate Mackintosh, Executive Director, UCLA Law’s The Promise Institute for Human Rights (Europe).  

The Q&A was moderated by Xuchen Zhang, Legal Advisor, UCLA Law's The Promise Institute for Human Rights (Europe).