Seventy-one parties to the Rome Statute on Monday joined a statement to voice opposition to US sanctions against International Criminal Court (ICC) officials that were implemented in September. The nations stated, “any attempt to undermine the independence of the court should not be tolerated.”

On September 2, the US State Department took action against the ICC in the name of protecting Americans from investigations. The sanctions would restrict the visas of those who worked with the ICC to investigate US personnel without the consent of the US. The statement specifically named ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda and the ICC’s Head of the Jurisdiction Phakiso Mochochoko as blocked from the US, as well as anyone who supports them in their investigations.

The State Department reiterated its commitment to justice and accountability but stated that the ICC investigations threatened US sovereignty.

At a UN meeting on the ICC, German Ambassador Christoph Heusgen stated, “[t]he International Criminal Court embodies our collective commitment to fight impunity for the most serious crimes under international law.” Richard Dicker of Human Rights Watch said that this statement was signed by “nearly all of the US government’s allies.”

Signatories to the statement include: “Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, France, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Nigeria, South Korea, South Africa, Spain and the United Kingdom.”