STRASBOURG: The International Criminal Court (ICC) has been awarded the European Union’s prestigious 2026 Sakharov Prize for its work in upholding human rights and international justice, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola announced on Thursday.
The award comes amid mounting pressure on the Hague-based court from US President Donald Trump’s administration, which has threatened action against the institution and imposed sanctions on it earlier this month.
“The European Union is built on respect for multilateralism and international institutions, and this prize recognises the important work of the court in upholding international law and justice,” Metsola told lawmakers in Strasbourg.
The International Criminal Court and its officials have been awarded the European Parliament’s 2026 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.
Learn more about the laureate here ➡️ https://t.co/zst2LyCbu1 https://t.co/iE0UKp1bp0
— European Parliament (@Europarl_EN) October 22, 2026
The award marks the ICC’s second international recognition this month, following the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to former ICC judge Navi Pillay, in a move widely seen as a show of support for the court.
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The ICC has faced sustained criticism from Trump, particularly since it issued arrest warrants last year for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister over alleged war crimes.
Named after Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov, the Sakharov Prize has been awarded annually since 1988 to individuals and organisations defending human rights and fundamental freedoms.
