International Criminal Court wins EU's Sakharov human rights prize

The ⁠International Criminal Court ​has been awarded the European ​Union's 2026 Sakharov Prize, the EU's top prize regarding human rights work.

The prize ​is ‌the second international ⁠recognition for the war crimes tribunal this month, ‌and comes within two weeks after US ⁠President Donald Trump announced sanctions against the court.

That announcement ​was made hours after former ‌ICC judge Navi Pillay was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, which was ‌widely seen as a show of support for ​the embattled court.

The Hague-based ICC has long been a target of Trump, whose campaign against ​it has escalated since ​the court announced arrest warrants against Israeli Prime ​Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister last year.

The EU prize, named after the late Soviet ⁠dissident Andrei Sakharov, has been awarded annually since ⁠1988 to ​individuals and organisations defending human rights and freedoms.

ICC President Tomoko Akane of Japan welcomed the award, saying that it “comes at a time when the court and its officials face unprecedented challenges".

“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,” she said in a statement.

The ICC opened in 2002 as a court of last resort to prosecute senior leaders it deems responsible for crimes that, according to its founding treaty, “deeply shock the conscience of humanity.” It has jurisdiction over war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and the crime of aggression.

The Trump administration's sanctions cut off the court from US-based financial services, technology companies and even using US dollars. They set a six-month timeline for US companies and individuals that have business with the court to wind that business down.

The winner is chosen by the European Parliament's president and top EU lawmakers from among candidates nominated by the parliament’s various political groups. The assembly says the award is “the highest tribute paid by the European Union to human rights work".

Imprisoned Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu and Taraneh and Romina Rahimi –  twins being held in prison for taking part in demonstrations against the Iranian government – were the others to make the EU shortlist.

(FRANCE 24 with AP and Reuters)