{"id":20741,"date":"2026-09-11T16:00:40","date_gmt":"2026-09-11T15:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yihr.rs\/?p=20741"},"modified":"2026-09-11T16:00:40","modified_gmt":"2026-09-11T15:00:40","slug":"wave-of-withdrawals-and-new-us-campaign-threaten-victims-access-to-justice-the-international-criminal-court-needs-immediate-action-from-its-states-parties","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yihr.rs\/en\/wave-of-withdrawals-and-new-us-campaign-threaten-victims-access-to-justice-the-international-criminal-court-needs-immediate-action-from-its-states-parties\/","title":{"rendered":"Wave of Withdrawals and New US Campaign Threaten Victims’ Access to Justice: The International Criminal Court Needs Immediate Action from Its States Parties"},"content":{"rendered":"

In September 2025, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso <\/span>announced<\/span><\/a> their intention to withdraw from the ICC. The three countries, members of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), formally notified UN Secretary-General Ant\u00f3nio Guterres of their withdrawal from the Rome Statute in June 2026. They have <\/span>accused<\/span><\/a> the ICC, among other things, of pursuing a selective prosecutorial policy against the Global South. On Friday, 24 July 2026, Venezuela also announced that it had notified the Secretary-General of its withdrawal from the Rome Statute. This was followed on Monday, 27 July, by Chad, whose decision has <\/span>reportedly<\/span><\/a> been linked to a <\/span>US request<\/span><\/a> to review its membership to the Court.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

The withdrawals by Venezuela and Chad come amid a renewed <\/span>US campaign<\/span><\/a> to \u201c<\/span>dismantle the ICC brick by brick\u201d<\/span><\/a> in order to prevent any investigation or prosecution of US nationals and their allies, including Israel. This campaign includes diplomatic pressure urging States to withdraw from the Rome Statute and threatening to reduce or withdraw foreign and security assistance from countries that continue to support the Court. The objective of this campaign is clear: to secure impunity for international crimes committed by the United States and its allies.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

These are critical times: victims of the most serious crimes need effective access to justice more than ever, yet the ICC, its judges and organisations cooperating with it are under <\/span>unprecedented and sustained attack<\/span><\/a>. In this context, any disengagement from the ICC weakens the fight against impunity, undermines the prevention of the gravest crimes, and erodes victims\u2019 rights to justice, truth, and reparations.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Withdrawals not only create safe havens for ICC fugitives, they also increase the risks of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide being committed with impunity on the territory of withdrawing States or by their nationals, gravely limiting the possibility of justice for victims. Furthermore, they undermine cooperation with the Court, including access to victims and witnesses, and the arrest and surrender of alleged perpetrators.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

The CICC and undersigned organisations recognise the necessity of ensuring fairness in the international criminal justice system, safeguarding judicial independence, and truthfully addressing concerns about selectivity in the administration of justice. It is equally important to ensure those allegedly responsible for international crimes are held to account, regardless of their nationality.  Yet, these withdrawals come at a time when the Office of the Prosecutor has significantly expanded the geographical scope of its investigations beyond Africa, including in Palestine, the Philippines, Ukraine, Myanmar\/Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Venezuela, and elsewhere. Furthermore, it has sought arrest warrants against leaders of powerful States and their allies, notably the Russian and Israeli Heads of State, and charges were recently confirmed against the former Filipino Head of State. Concerns regarding selectivity should be addressed through constructive dialogue within the Assembly of States Parties and, mindful of its fully independent mandate, the Court, rather than through unilateral withdrawals.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

The CICC and the undersigned organisations urge Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Venezuela, and Chad to reverse their decisions by immediately withdrawing their notifications, following Hungary\u2019s example earlier this year. They<\/span> also urge the United States to halt its campaign, revoke the sanctions, and stop its attacks against the independence of justice.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Victims and survivors deserve concrete progress towards accountability, truth and reparations, and must be supported in their quest for justice. The promise made to victims nearly 30 years ago in Rome that impunity would no longer be the norm cannot be derailed by one State, no matter how powerful. The international community must discharge its duty to safeguard that promise, for the benefit of victims, survivors and humanity.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

To this end, the signatories call for:<\/b> <\/span><\/p>\n

Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Venezuela, and Chad <\/b>to: <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n