European Union awards top rights prize to International Criminal Court days after Trump sanctions
The award backs the court’s independence as U.S. sanctions threaten banking, software and other operations, officials said.
- The European Union awarded the International Criminal Court its 2026 Sakharov Prize on Thursday, October 22, 2026, honoring the tribunal's work defending human rights and freedoms.
- Former ICC judge Navi Pillay received the Nobel Peace Prize earlier today, an honor widely viewed as a show of support for the embattled court.
- Named after the late Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov, the European Union has awarded this prize annually since 1988 to individuals and organizations defending human rights.
- This recognition arrives within two weeks of President Donald Trump announcing sanctions against the court, which has been a target of Trump since it issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last year.
- Based in The Hague, the ICC has secured two international recognitions this month, underscoring its global role in justice amid mounting political opposition.
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347 Articles
The International Criminal Court (ICC) is receiving this year's Sakharov Prize for Intellectual Freedom, which was announced by the President of the European Parliament, Metsola, in Strasbourg. Parliament therefore acknowledges the important role of the Court in the defence of international law, international justice and human rights.
Days after Trump sanctions, ICC receives EU's top rights honour
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.
The International Criminal Court and its officials won the EU Sakharov Prize of 2026, the highest distinction in human rights.
The European Parliament supported the judges and prosecutors of the International Criminal Court amid pressure from the United States
EU awards top rights prize to International Criminal Court
Facing US sanctions, the International Criminal Court was on Thursday awarded the European Union's top rights prize, the Sakharov prize, in a show of support that risks upsetting President Donald Trump.
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