Today, the Nobel Peace Prize went to Navi Pillay, a former judge at the International Criminal Court, for her efforts to promote peace and international law. The Nobel Committee honoured her role in making sure that war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide are prosecuted. It also warned that “judges and institutions of international law are under political attack.”

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This includes attacks on the ICC.

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Hours after the announcement of the Committee 's decision, the US government has announced sanctions against the Court itself. This comes on top of sanctions the government previously imposed on several ICC staff.

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Sanctions against the ICC serve no one’s interests.

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They are an attack on peace and security.They will not stop the ICC. But they make its work much harder, and not only for those inside the Court. They put at risk everyone who makes justice possible: the people who document crimes and share information with the Court, the victims who work with Court officials to be heard, and the lawyers defending suspects and the accused.

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The Nobel Committee has reminded the world that peace requires justice. State Parties to the ICC should condemn the US government 's decision and reaffirm their commitment to the ICC. Through full cooperation and support, not bowing to US pressure.

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