European Parliament Awards Sakharov Prize to the ICC

The EU's top human rights prize arrives as member states remain split over shielding the court from US sanctions, with no agreement reached.

The European Parliament announced on October 22 that the International Criminal Court (ICC), headed by Japanese President Tomoko Akane, and its staff had been awarded the 2026 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. The annual prize recognizes individuals and organizations for their contributions to human rights and democracy.

Established in 1988, the Sakharov Prize is named after Andrei Sakharov, the late Soviet physicist and dissident. It is the European Union's highest honor for contributions to human rights. The 2025 prize was awarded to two journalists from Belarus and Georgia who have faced persecution for their work.

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola praised the ICC's work in "upholding international law and justice."

In a statement, the Parliament highlighted the ICC's efforts to investigate and prosecute the world's most serious crimes, including war crimes and genocide, hold perpetrators accountable, and prevent such atrocities from happening again.

Blocking Statute Stalls in the EU

The statement also addressed mounting pressure from the Trump administration, which has imposed sanctions on the ICC in an effort to undermine the court. 

Members of the European Parliament have condemned the measures as a serious attack on the international justice system and called on the European Commission to invoke the EU's Blocking Statute, which shields European entities from certain foreign sanctions.

Spain and Belgium are among the countries that have urged the EU to use the statute in response to the US sanctions. However, many member states remain reluctant to risk a confrontation with Washington, and the bloc has yet to reach a consensus.

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Author: Mina Mitsui, The Sankei Shimbun