UN Experts Accuse US Of Empowering War Criminals By Sanctioning ICC

(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) GENEVA, Feb 10 (KUNA) -- A group of UN experts on Monday accused the United States of empowering war criminals by seeking to punish the International Criminal Court (ICC) and by denying justice and reparation to thousands of victims around the world including women and children.
This came after the US President signed an Executive Action authorizing sanctions on the ICC its personnel and individuals or entities who cooperate with it according to a statement issued by a group of UN experts from Geneva.
The experts warned that the financial restrictions will undermine the ICC and its investigations into war crimes and crimes against humanity across the world including those committed against women and children.
"Imposing sanctions on court personnel for carrying out their professional responsibilities constitutes a flagrant violation of human rights and undermines the principles of judicial independence and the rule of law" the experts said.
The UN experts underlined that the US sanctions against the ICC would appear to amount to offenses against the administration of justice under Article 70 of the Rome Statute stressing that article 70 punishes efforts to impede or intimidate an official of the Court or to retaliate against an official of the Court on account of duties performed by that official.
They also warned, "by sanctioning the ICC the US President is gravely undermining the 'never again' legacy of Nuremberg a cornerstone of evolving international criminal law since 1945."
However, the experts welcomed expressions of solidarity and support for the ICC from other UN Member States highlighting the global community's recognition of the tribunal's critical role.
On 6 January the US President signed an Executive Order which states that "any effort by the ICC to investigate arrest detain or prosecute protected persons constitutes an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States" declaring a national emergency to address this "threat."
It "opposes and expects our allies to oppose" all actions by the ICC against the US Israeli occupation authority or any other ally that has not consented to ICC jurisdiction.
The order aims to punish the ICC for issuing arrest warrants against senior officials of the Israeli occupying authorities including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former war Minister Yoav Gallant.
The statement was issued by Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers Margaret Satterthwaite, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied Francesca Albanese, the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism Ben Saul, Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order George Katrougalos, and endorsed by many other experts. (end)
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