Sakharov Prize recognises ICC and its officials

The European Parliament awarded the Sakharov Prize to the International Criminal Court and its officials, according to a UN report updated on October 23. The ceremony is planned for December in Strasbourg.

The award recognises an institution’s work; it is not a judgment in a pending case. The ICC prosecutes individuals and complements national courts under the Rome Statute. Recognition therefore does not establish guilt on a particular charge or announce a new conviction. Its judicial decisions must be assessed separately from the political significance of the prize.