International Criminal Court President Tomoko Akane, who is under US sanctions, has described the Hague-based organisation as the “last bastion of the rule of law” in the world, while calling for continued international support for the court.
Speaking online at an event held by a non-governmental organisation in Tokyo on Sunday, Akane said support from people around the world was necessary for the continuation of the ICC. She also expressed her sincere gratitude for assistance from Japan, including a signature campaign supporting the court.
Akane strongly criticised the US sanctions imposed against her, describing them as “illegal and unacceptable”. She characterised the measures as an attempt to suppress justice through external force, arguing that the sanctions had affected both her professional activities and personal circumstances.
Despite the restrictions, Akane said she had been able to receive her salary through a local bank, although she was experiencing difficulties remitting money. Companies had also rejected transactions with her because of the sanctions, she said.
The ICC president said the measures had left her feeling as though she had been treated like a criminal. She said her pride and dignity, as well as her economic freedom, had been significantly affected.
Akane nevertheless said she must remain undaunted as her colleagues continued carrying out their duties. She said some of them were working despite feeling that their lives were in danger, highlighting the pressure facing those involved with the court.
The International Criminal Court prosecutes and punishes individuals who have committed war crimes and other offences under international law. Its role places it at the centre of international efforts to hold individuals accountable for serious violations of international law.
The dispute with Washington has intensified following US action against senior ICC officials. The US government imposed sanctions on Akane and an ICC senior trial lawyer last month, amid frustration over the court’s decisions, including its war crime investigations targeting US troops.
For Akane, the sanctions represent more than a personal or institutional dispute. She presented continued international support as essential to the court’s survival and to its role in upholding the rule of law.
Her appeal came as she thanked supporters in Japan and elsewhere for standing behind the ICC, while maintaining that external pressure should not deter the court or its officials from carrying out their duties.
