International Justice Under Attack: The Impact of Sanctions on Human Rights Defenders, Victims, and the Shrinking Civic Space

Sanctions are part of a broader and worrying pattern of attacks and threats against the Court, including withdrawals from the Rome Statute and the criminalisation of ICC-related work.

In the context of 25th Session of the ICC Assembly of States Parties, the Coalition for the International Criminal Court (ICC) will convene human rights defenders, survivors and civil society representatives from Palestine, the Philippines, South Sudan, the US and Venezuela for a discussion aiming to highlight the impact of sanctions and other attacks against the Court on their work, the civic space, freedom of expression and freedom of association.

This side event will explore how these attacks affect their work and the victims and survivors of mass atrocities they work with and for, and the role of states in support the Rome Statute system. 

*This event is being held in the margins of the 25th session of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ASP25), taking place at the World Forum in The Hague from 30 November to 7 December 2026.

Please note that side events held at the World Forum during ASP25 are not open to the general public. Access is restricted to participants who are officially accredited to ASP25 or individuals invited by the event organisers who have been granted a valid day pass.

An invitation to a side event does not, in itself, guarantee access to the venue. All attendees must hold the appropriate accreditation badge or day pass to enter the World Forum.