ESIL Rapid Response Roudtable | The International Criminal Court Under Pressure: US Sanctions and the Future of International Criminal Justice | 22 October 2026

The European Society of International Law (ESIL)

is hosting  

ESIL RAPID RESPONSE ROUNDTABLE

“The International Criminal Court Under Pressure: US Sanctions and the Future of International Criminal Justice“

22 October 2026, 17:30-18:30 Rome time, Online

<Registration closes on 22 October 2026 at 16:30 (Rome time)>

ABOUT THIS ESIL RAPID RESPONSE ROUNDTABLE

While well accustomed to state pressure, the International Criminal Court (ICC) is now facing an unprecedented challenge: escalating sanctions imposed by the United States against the institution. These measures raise fundamental questions about the Court’s ability to function, the relationship between international criminal justice and state power, and the future of accountability for atrocity crimes beyond the domestic arena. Yet the implications extend beyond the Court itself. The sanctions also raise new questions and pose potential challenges for States Parties to the Rome Statute and other actors committed to supporting the ICC’s work.

In this Rapid Response Roundtable, panellists will discuss the legal and institutional implications of US sanctions against the ICC, as well as their consequences for international criminal justice more broadly. Topics of discussion include, but are not limited to: How might these measures affect the Court’s ability to fulfil its mandate, and what can States Parties do in response? What do these developments reveal about the limits of international criminal justice in the face of opposition from powerful states? And what future lies ahead for the ICC and the broader project of international criminal accountability?

Guest Speakers: