ICC judges describe life after US sanctions

When the Canadian Kimberly Prost learned Donald Trump’s administration had imposed sanctions on her, it came as a shock. For years she has sat as a judge at the international criminal court, weighing accusations of war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity; now she is on the same list as terrorists and those involved in organised crime.

“It really was a moment of a bit of disbelief,” she said. The fallout was material and psychological. Her credit cards, Amazon and Google accounts were cancelled and she called it a “direct and flagrant attack” on the court. The measures, which have been applied to 11 ICC officials including the chief prosecutor and eight judges, include bans on travel to the US and penalties for American companies that provide services.

In an executive order, Trump said the court engaged in “illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America and our close ally Israel”; neither the US nor Israel is among the 125 signatories of the Rome statute.

United States

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