The International Criminal Court (ICC) is facing one of the most turbulent moments in its 24-year history, with pressure mounting from both inside and outside the institution.

Just days after member states voted to remove Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan over allegations of sexual misconduct, the court is now confronting a co-ordinated campaign by the United States (US) urging countries to abandon the ICC altogether, while Venezuela has become the latest nation to announce its withdrawal from the Rome Statute.

The US, which has never been a member of the court, has dramatically escalated its opposition in recent weeks.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio had called on ICC member states to reconsider their membership, arguing the court has overstepped its mandate and threatened the sovereignty of democratic nations.

Within the space of two weeks, the US launched a campaign to dismantle the court over jurisdictional and sovereignty concerns, states parties voted to oust the Court’s Chief Prosecutor and Venezuela announced it was leaving the ICC.

–SABC–