Labour MP Tony Vaughan has met the Vice-President of the International Criminal Court, Rosario Salvatore Aitala, and warned that US sanctions are already having "a significant impact" on the court's work and its staff.
The MP for Folkestone and Hythe, a member of the UK delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, said they discussed how the UK can continue to support the court, uphold the rules-based international system and advance accountability.
Sanctions on judges
Nine of the ICC's 18 judges face sanctions announced by the Trump administration, including asset freezes and visa restrictions. The sanctions follow the court's decision in November 2024 to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant, among other steps.
Tony Vaughan: 'We must continue to support it'
He said: "I am glad that the UK, alongside Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the Netherlands, on Friday reaffirmed our continued and unwavering support for the ICC's independence, impartiality and integrity, and have strongly disagreed with the proposed US sanctions announced last week."
He added: "Sanctions are already having a significant impact not only on the Court's work, but on its dedicated staff and their families. These measures will make things much worse for them, if implemented.
"The ICC has a vital role to play in bringing those accused of the most serious international crimes to justice and supporting victims and we must continue to support it."
Joint statement
The joint statement on support for the International Criminal Court was published by the UK government on Friday 9 October, alongside partners including Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Denmark and the Netherlands.
Tony Vaughan, a barrister and King's Counsel before his election in 2024, has made the rule of law and international justice a focus of his work with the Council of Europe delegation. He is also leading today's Westminster Hall debate on a petition calling for the UK to rejoin the European Union.
