UN voices concern over US sanctions on senior ICC officials

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed deep concern over the imposition of sanctions by the United States against two senior officials of the International Criminal Court (ICC), his spokesman said on Wednesday (19/8). “We have seen the US announcement regarding the imposition of sanctions on ICC President Tomoko Akane and ICC senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye,” said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN Secretary-General. “The Secretary-General expresses deep concern over these designations, as well as the ongoing designations against other ICC staff,” Dujarric said. Although the UN and the ICC are two separate institutions with distinct and clear mandates, the UN regards the ICC as a key pillar of international criminal justice, and the Secretary-General holds the work of the ICC in the highest regard, he said.