The International Criminal Court (ICC) and its officials have been awarded the 2026 Sakharov Prize, according to an announcement made by the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Thursday. The prize is presented annually to individuals or organizations that advocate for the defense of human rights and the rule of law.
At the announcement, the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, stressed that the European Union is built upon “respect for multilateralism and international institutions.” By honoring the ICC, the Parliament acknowledged the organization’s “crucial work in upholding international law and justice.”
The ICC investigates and prosecutes individuals accused of the most serious crimes, including genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression. Operating as a court of last resort, the ICC supplements national courts and is governed by the Rome Statute. The award recognizes the court’s comprehensive efforts, encompassing investigations, prosecutions, trials, and issuing or authorizing arrest warrants.
In their 2025 annual reports, Members of the European Parliament had previously expressed deep concern regarding mounting threats and sanctions against the ICC, particularly those originating from the United States. They called upon the European Commission to activate the EU’s “Blocking Statute” to safeguard ICC officials from extraterritorial attacks and allow them to continue their work independently.
The MEPs reiterated that all EU Member States are signatories to the Rome Statute and are thus obliged to implement the decisions of the ICC. Furthermore, they emphasized that the disregard for international law and the politicization of discussions concerning international justice institutions poses an “existential threat to the rule-based international order.”
