The Bar Council of England and Wales supports the International Bar Association (IBA) in denouncing the United States sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC) and echoes the IBA’s call for all states to oppose sanctions and respect the judicial independence of the ICC.
On 6 February 2025, US President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order authorising sanctions against the ICC and its officials, including property blocking and visa bans for the persons designated by the Executive Order and their immediate family members.
Commenting, Barbara Mills KC, Chair of the Bar Council, said: “We strongly oppose political threats to the international rule of law and stand with the International Bar Association in calling on all states to respect and uphold the independence of international courts.”
IBA Executive Director Dr Mark Ellis said: “The ICC is the cornerstone of the international justice architecture, created to realise the promise of ‘never again’ and to bring justice to victims of ‘atrocities that deeply shock the conscience of humanity’. For this work, the court, its officials, and those cooperating with it, have at times faced political threats, intimidation and attacks from those seeking to undermine the court’s authority and obstruct its investigations. These attacks undo decades of progress for victims and weaken the rule of law globally.”
Read the full IBA press release
Watch former ICC prosector Her Excellency Dr Fatou Bensouda, High Commissioner of The Gambia, deliver our annual international rule of law lecture: Defending the rule of law - global challengesa dn the role of the International Criminal Court