Nobel laureate Navi Pillay slams US sanctions on ICC as 'unacceptable'

Navi Pillay, the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has strongly condemned the United States’ decision to impose sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC). Pillay, a former ICC judge and South African, was awarded the prize for her contributions to peace and international law.

Speaking at the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo, Pillay stated that the sanctions, which target the court and its officials, are “unheard of” and “unacceptable.” The US, under President Donald Trump, has accused the ICC of being a “rogue” institution and an affront to American sovereignty, particularly over investigations into alleged actions by US soldiers in Afghanistan and its arrest warrants for Israeli officials.

The sanctions include a ban on US entities transacting with the ICC, a move intended to cripple its financial operations. While a six-month grace period is provided for member states to continue funding, the US aims to compel a resolution to its concerns.

International reactions have largely sided with the ICC. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the sanctions a “serious blow to our collective pursuit of international criminal justice.” Several European nations, including the UK, Germany, France, and Italy, have also expressed strong disagreement with the US action.

Pillay, who also served as the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, has a long history of work on human rights issues globally. Her recognition by the Nobel Committee follows the footsteps of other prominent South African peace laureates like Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu.

The US sanctions represent a significant escalation in the Trump administration’s efforts to challenge the ICC’s jurisdiction, particularly concerning American citizens and allies.

Source: Nile Post