France expressed its “consternation” on Wednesday, August 20, after the decision of the United States to take new sanctions against four magistrates of the International Criminal Court (CPI), including a French judge, according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France.
France “expresses his solidarity with respect to the magistrates mentioned by this decision”, among which French judge Nicolás Guillou, and believes that US sanctions are “contrary to the principle of independence of justice,” he said to a spokesman for the Ministry, while the United States justifies them by “a politicization” of the CIC.
The United States announced new sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Wednesday, which accuse of “politicization.” These sanctions occur after similar measures against magistrates and the IPC prosecutor, respectively in June and February.
“Intensify your efforts to defend institutions”
“The incessant intensification of the United States reprisals against international institutions and their staff must cease,” said Volker Türk, the United Nations High Commissioner of Human Rights, after the new sanctions against members of the International Criminal Court on Thursday.
He asked the other states to ensure that these sanctions cannot be applied specifically and “intensify their efforts to defend the institutions they have created to promote and protect human rights and the rule of law,” according to a statement.
“The judges and prosecutors of sanction at the national, regional or international level for having fulfilled their mandate in accordance with the standards of international law constitute an attack on the rule of law and corrupts justice,” said Volker Türk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Request for removal of sanctions against magistrates
The High Commissioner requested the withdrawal of the sanctions against the four magistrates mentioned by the American announcement on Wednesday (two judges and two assistant prosecutors), therefore, those already addressed to four other judges and the prosecutor of the CPI, Karim Khan, previously appointed.
He also said that the sanctions directed to the special rapporteur designated by the United Nations Human Rights Council on the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, are raised.
Source: BFM TV
