The sanctions, imposed by the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control and announced on 9 October 2026, mark an escalation of measures targeting the court, according to a joint statement.

The organisations said previous sanctions, introduced from February 2025, had targeted ICC judges, prosecutors and staff, as well as a UN special rapporteur and civil society groups working with the court.

The ICC, which has 125 member states, investigates and prosecutes individuals accused of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. It is currently investigating 13 situations and has seven individuals in its custody.

The statement warned that sanctions against the institution could disrupt its wider operations, including investigations, trials, witness protection and victims’ rights to justice and reparation.

The signatories called on the US administration to withdraw all sanctions against the court and those associated with it, and urged member states to use diplomatic means to secure their reversal.

They said the international community must protect the ICC’s independence from political interference and uphold accountability for the most serious crimes.