The sanctions stem from a February executive order in response to a U.N.-backed court issuing arrest warrants against Israel’s Prime Minister, and later Defense Minister, for alleged war crimes in Gaza.
Sanctions may include blocking financial access to property or assets in the United States, as well as travel bans.
See our explainer on the ICC, here.
Ms. Baerbock recalled that the court was founded on the principle that “justice is a universal duty,” but that its task remains unfulfilled.
“For more than two decades, the court has confronted impunity and demonstrated that even in the darkest moments, accountability remains possible,” he said. “However, today, as we witness atrocities that continue to shock the conscience of humanity, it is evident that the court’s mission is far from complete.”
‘Deliberate attacks’ against the court
Ms. Baerbock highlighted the importance of international cooperation for investigations, arrests and the execution of warrants, as well as the need for independence as a safeguard to ensure that crimes are prosecuted under the Rome Statute, the international treaty that founded the court.
But the court has not been free from interference, he stressed.
“Judicial officials have been sanctioned for upholding the rule of law and demanding accountability; and its systems have faced cyberattacks aimed at undermining the credibility of the court”said Ms. Baerbock.
“These are not isolated incidents; they are deliberate attacks on the court that aim to weaken the rule of law and erode faith in international institutions.”
End ‘bullying’ calls for resolution
The resolution presented at Tuesday’s meeting stresses that ICC officials should be able to carry out their mandate “without intimidation” and “condemns any threats, attacks or interference against the Court, its staff or those who cooperate with it.”
The president of the International Criminal Court, Judge Tomoko Akane, told delegates that the court’s rulings remind the international community that justice “transcends borders and interests,” but that When “judges are pressured, threatened or undermined, the credibility of international law itself is weakened.”
“Attacks, threats and coercive measures against the court and its officials have persisted and continue to pose a serious threat to the court’s administration of justice and the global fight against impunity,” it added.
Decisions, repairs
Ms Akane outlined the achievements and challenges facing the court and called on Member States to uphold the international legal system.
He mentioned some key cases before the court, including individuals accused of serious crimes in Sudan, Afghanistan and Israel, but reminded that arrest warrants can only be executed with the cooperation of States.
In the year to August, more than 18,000 victims have participated in cases before the ICC.
“The court gives victims a voice, a space to tell their stories, and hope that the truth will be recognized and accountability established.”Ms Akane said before emphasizing that reparations are an integral part of the process.
He referred to the Victims Trust Fund created by ICC members as a tool that has yielded tangible results – in Uganda, for example – where almost 50,000 victims received financial reparations for war crimes committed against them.