Japan Urged to Publicly Defend International Criminal court Amidst U.S. sanctions
TOKYO – Nearly 20 members of Japan’s Diet are calling on the government to take a stronger stance in support of the International Criminal Court (ICC) as it faces escalating sanctions from the United States. The push comes after the U.S., under former President Trump, authorized sanctions targeting the ICC and its supporters in February 2025, following the court’s issuance of arrest warrants in November 2024 for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Minister yoav Gallant, and a deceased Hamas official.
The U.S. sanctions,which have drawn widespread criticism,have already impacted the ICC’s operations,affecting victims’ access to justice,according to Human Rights First. To date, the U.S. has sanctioned the ICC prosecutor, his two deputies, six ICC judges, a United Nations human rights expert, and three leading Palestinian human rights groups. Concerns remain that the U.S. may broaden sanctions to encompass the entire court.
At a recent event endorsed by the Nonpartisan Association for Humanitarian Diplomacy, Parliamentary Association for Supporting Democratization of Myanmar, and the Nonpartisan Parliamentary Association for Reconsidering Human Rights diplomacy, Diet members urged the Japanese government to publicly condemn the sanctions and advocate for their revocation.
“Japan’s international credibility relies on our actions,” stated Masahiko Shibayama, a former education minister.
Japan has historically been a strong supporter of the ICC since its establishment in 2002, having nominated three judges to the court – including its current president, Judge Tomoko Akane. Despite this commitment, the government has been cautious in its public response to the U.S. sanctions.
Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya has reportedly raised concerns with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, but Japan has refrained from joining cross-regional statements backing the ICC, drawing criticism from within the Diet. “It begs the question of what Japan is really doing,” said Diet member yasue Funayama.
Advocates are urging Japan to take concrete steps to protect the ICC,including publicly expressing its support,condemning the U.S.sanctions, providing the court with necessary resources, and ratifying the 2002 Agreement on the privileges and Immunities of the ICC to safeguard court officials. The call for action underscores the importance of upholding international justice and the rule of law.
