European Parliament awards 2026 Sakharov Prize to the International Criminal Court and its officials
Parliament President Roberta Metsola announced the human rights award in Strasbourg, as the court faces US sanctions on its officials.
The European Parliament has awarded its 2026 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and its officials, recognising the court's work at a time when it is under sanctions from the United States.
Parliament President Roberta Metsola announced the decision in Strasbourg on Thursday, October 22, following a decision by the Conference of Presidents, which brings together the leaders of the political groups. She said the prize recognises the court's work in upholding international law and justice.
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Announcing the award, Metsola said the EU is "built on respect for multilateralism and international institutions". The announcement drew a standing ovation in the chamber, Reuters reported.
Reaction from the court
ICC President Tomoko Akane said the court's "unprecedented challenges" made the recognition more significant, according to Reuters. The award ceremony will be held in Strasbourg during the Parliament's December plenary session.
Metsola also used the announcement to recognise Tanzanian opposition figure Tundu Lissu, and Taraneh and Romina Rahimi on behalf of people persecuted in Iran.
Sanctions backdrop
The ICC, based in The Hague, investigates and prosecutes individuals for genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression under the Rome Statute. The United States has imposed sanctions on the court and some of its prosecutors and judges since 2025, and Washington's opposition to the court sharpened after it issued arrest warrants in 2024 for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister.
Members of the European Parliament have repeatedly urged the European Commission to use the EU's blocking statute to shield ICC officials from the effects of those sanctions, according to the UN Regional Information Centre.
About the prize
The Sakharov Prize, named after the Soviet physicist and dissident Andrei Sakharov, has been awarded every year since 1988 to individuals and groups defending human rights and fundamental freedoms. India is not a party to the Rome Statute that created the ICC.
For Indian readers, the award highlights the growing pressure on international legal institutions, a debate that also touches on how countries outside the court's jurisdiction, including India, engage with global justice mechanisms.
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