Speaking during a regular media briefing on Monday, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric was asked about reports that United States (US) Secretary of State Marco Rubio supports abolishing the ICC, which prosecutes individuals accused of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression.
Dujarric acknowledged that the ICC operates independently of the UN Secretariat but stressed that the court plays an important role in promoting accountability for serious international crimes. “While the ICC is an organisation that is separate from the Secretariat and the UN, it remains for us a critical cog in the international justice system,” said Dujarric.
Dujarric added that the court enjoys the backing of a large number of UN member states and contributes significantly to efforts aimed at ending impunity for grave crimes.
The remarks come amid growing debate over the role and authority of international legal institutions following comments by Rubio in an opinion article published in The Wall Street Journal.
In the article, Rubio argued that the United States should reject what was described as interference by international judicial bodies, emphasising national sovereignty and the independence of domestic legal systems. “America never agreed to a world tribunal that can override our own courts and the Constitution,” Rubio wrote.
The US is not a signatory to the Rome Statute, the treaty adopted in 1998 that established the ICC. The court, based in The Hague in the Netherlands, operates independently and prosecutes individuals rather than states.
The debate follows action taken by Washington last year against ICC officials involved in investigations relating to alleged war crimes committed in Afghanistan and Gaza. The US imposed sanctions on several ICC personnel, including judges and prosecutors connected to those investigations.
Asked whether UN Secretary-General António Guterres shared Rubio’s criticism of international law, Dujarric defended the international legal framework established after the Second World War.
According to Dujarric, institutions such as the United Nations, the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights were created by sovereign states and remain central to protecting human rights and promoting international peace and security. “International law, the Charter of the UN and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights were created by sovereign member states,” said Dujarric.
Dujarric added that these institutions and legal principles have provided protection and assistance to millions of people worldwide but are increasingly coming under pressure.
The UN has consistently supported international accountability mechanisms, arguing that they play a critical role in addressing serious crimes and upholding the rule of law at the global level.
–UN/ChannelAfrica–
