ICC Wins Sakharov Prize Amid US Sanctions
The European Parliament awarded its 2026 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and its officials on October 22 in Strasbourg, sending a strong message of support for international justice as the court faces mounting pressure from the United States. Parliament President Roberta Metsola announced the decision in the hemicycle, telling a standing ovation: “The European Union is built on respect for multilateralism and international institutions.”
Why the Award Matters Now
The recognition comes less than two weeks after the Trump administration imposed sanctions on the ICC as an institution on October 9, escalating earlier measures against its judges, prosecutors and staff. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said transactions with the court would be banned after a six-month grace period. The Hague-based court has long been a target of President Donald Trump, whose campaign against it escalated after the ICC announced arrest warrants in 2024 against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister.
A Month of Recognition for the Court
The Sakharov Prize is the second major international recognition for the war crimes tribunal this month. Former ICC judge Navanethem “Navi” Pillay, who served on the court from 2003 to 2008, was awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize earlier in October — an award widely seen as a show of support for the embattled court. ICC President Tomoko Akane said the “unprecedented challenges” the court faces made the Sakharov Prize all the more significant, adding: “There is no peace without justice and no security without law.”
How the Decision Was Made
The nomination came from the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) group and was supported by Renew Europe, the Greens and The Left. It beat out two other finalists: Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu and the Iranian twin sisters Taraneh and Romina Rahimi. The Socialists and Democrats also renewed their demand for the European Commission to activate the EU’s blocking statute to counter the US sanctions. The €50,000 award will be collected by the court and its officials in Strasbourg on December 16. The 2025 prize went to Belarusian journalist Andrzej Poczobut and Georgian journalist Mzia Amaglobeli.
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Sources: Reuters, European Parliament