BREAKING news: 67! member countries of the International Criminal Court, including many key United States allies, are speaking out for the #ICC in the face of extortionate threats by the Trump administration against the court.

https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/06/23/icc-member-countries-rally-around-court
#JusticeMatters

The #ICC is an “integral part” of the international judicial order and “a central institution in the fight against impunity” , says the group of 67 in its joint statement, a stern response to escalating threats by @SecPompeo, @realDonaldTrump. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-warcrimes-afghanistan-trump/international-criminal-court-members-defend-hague-based-court-in-face-of-u-s-sanctions-idUSKBN23U2XT

Trump signed an executive order two weeks ago authorising the blocking of assets & travel restrictions against ICC employees involved in an investigation into alleged war crimes in Afghanistan by U.S. forces.

ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda wants to investigate possible crimes...

...committed between 2003-2014, including alleged mass killings of civilians by Taliban insurgents, as well as the alleged torture of prisoners by Afghan authorities and, to a lesser extent, by U.S. forces and the CIA. The ICC investigation was given the go-ahead in March.

The ICC is a court of last resort, stepping in only when a state is unable or unwilling to prosecute grave crimes.

G67 statement sends "crucial message that ICC member states “have the court’s back” & “will not be cowed in their commitment to seeing justice.”

@DickerRichard

The statement of 67 International Criminal Court member states is a response to @realDonaldTrump's June 11 executive order, that authorizes asset freezes and family travel bans that could be used against ICC officials and potentially others who assist ICC investigations.

"The difficult landscape for a rules-based global order, including accountability for the worst crimes, highlights the need for ICC member countries to support a stronger court," says @hrw.
The court is facing internal challenges that need to be addressed. In December 2019...

...member countries signaled their renewed commitment to the ICC by launching a review process to strengthen the court and its performance.

Very important, because the ICC needs to be fixed:

https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/the-international-criminal-court-needs-fixing/#:~:text=As%20strong%20supporters%20of%20the,international%20experts%20is%20badly%20needed.

The G67 statement follows a long list of earlier public statements objecting to Trump's executive order, and supporting the International Criminal Court.

To mention just a few: thanks for being on the right side of history @JosepBorrellF @ministerBlok @ICC_PASP @SenatorLeahy!

“Multilateral support for the ICC is key to deterring the chilling effect of the Trump administration’s outrageous effort to undermine justice for victims. Multilateral support for the ICC is key to deterring the chilling effect of the Trump administration’s outrageous effort...

...to undermine justice for victims. Member countries will need sustained vigilance and to be ready to take further steps to push back against US bullying of the court."

@DickerRichard

https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/06/23/icc-member-countries-rally-around-court
#JusticeMatters
#ICC