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International Criminal Court Wins E.U.’s Top Human Rights Prize
Confirmed
In Short: The European Union has awarded the Sakharov Prize, its top human rights honor, to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in a move seen as a show of support amid US sanctions.
The Sakharov Prize, established in 1988 and named after Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov, is given annually to individuals or organizations that have fought for human rights or democracy.
The ICC, which opened in 2002, serves as a court of last resort to prosecute senior leaders deemed responsible for crimes that deeply shock the conscience of humanity.
The award comes just days after the Trump administration announced sweeping new sanctions on the court, which is based in The Hague, Netherlands.
The sanctions, aimed at crippling the ICC's day-to-day operations, have been met with strong opposition from the EU.
The ICC thanked the European Parliament for the award, noting that it comes at a time when the court and its officials face unprecedented challenges.
The EU has already thrown its support behind the ICC in the face of US sanctions, which will come into force in six months.
The EU leaders said they "deeply regret" the US sanctions move and urged the United States to reverse these measures.
The Socialists and Democrats group nominated the ICC following US President Donald Trump's sanctions on the court, announced on Oct. 9.
The EU hopes to use the delay before the sanctions are applied to try to talk the US down, but is also eyeing implementing a "blocking statute" to shield the ICC from Washington.
The ICC's award comes in the context of broader tensions with the US, including the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to former ICC judge Navi Pillay, which Trump criticized as 'disgraceful'.
What's confirmed
- "The European Union is built on respect for multilateralism and international institutions, and this prize recognises the important work of the court in upholding international law and justice," said European Parliament chief Roberta Metsola in announcing the award.
- Set up in 1988 and named after Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov, the EU prize is bestowed annually on individuals or organisations to recognise their fight for human rights or democracy.
- Trump's administration has vowed to dismantle the court "brick by brick", furious that judges have issued an arrest warrant for Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged crimes in Gaza.
- "Against this backdrop, the Sakharov Prize carries particular significance, reaffirming the importance of independent judicial institutions and of those who work to uphold international law," ICC President Tomoko Akane said.
- The ICC thanked the European Parliament for giving it the Sakharov Prize "at a time when the Court and its officials face unprecedented challenges".
- The EU has already thrown its support behind the ICC in the face of the US sanctions -- which will come into force in six months -- and has said it is "ready to take any necessary measures" to make sure the court can keep working.
- BRUSSELS (AP) — The International Criminal Court and officials working at the tribunal have won the European Union’s top human rights honor, the Sakharov Prize, an official said Thursday.
- FILE - A general view of the exterior of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands, March 12, 2025.
- The EU has announced the International Criminal Court as the winner of this year's Sakharov Prize.
- The award came just days after the Trump administration announced sweeping new sanctions on the court, which is based in The Hague, Netherlands, as part of its campaign to dismantle the tribunal over investigations into the United States and its allies, including Israel.
What's still developing
- "The International Criminal Court must be free to pursue its mission, independently, and without pressure or intimidation," EU chief Ursula von der Leyen posted online after the prize was announced.
- Reacting to EU Parliament president Roberta Metsola’s announcement of the prize winner on Thursday (22 October), the Hague-based court said it is “thankful” for the recognition of the court and its officials.
- They noted that the U.S. has delayed the full impact of the sanctions by six months, and that “this creates space for diplomacy,” and expressed hope that the measures can ultimately be reversed.
- Math is entering a “turbulent period,” the UCLA professor Terence Tao said in front of a packed lecture hall at the International Congress of Mathematicians.
- While Korean cinema's biggest international successes in recent years have come from directors reworking Hollywood genre formulas, Lee Chang-dong's "Possible Love" won Korea's first Grand Jury Prize at the Venice International Film Festival on Saturday — a film with no genre at all.
- TORONTO — “La Bola Negra,” an epic film about the interconnected lives of three gay men in Spain, took home the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sunday.
- The ICC said it would not be "deterred" by the sanctions The Trump administration has unveiled sweeping sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) in a significant acceleration of its attempt to "dismantle" what it sees as a "rogue" institution.
- The Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) will present its Screen Icon Award to Indian actor, director and producer Aamir Khan at its 37th edition, with a 25th-anniversary Special Presentation screening of “ Lagaan : Once Upon a Time in India” alongside director Ashutosh Gowariker.
- In Waves / Fjord / De Gaulle / Minotaur Cannes prize-winners and international Oscar submissions Minotaur and Fjord, animation In Waves and wartime double feature De Gaulle are among the features that will screen at the 30th anniversary edition of The American French Film Festival (TAFFF, November 3-8) in Los Angeles.