International Criminal Court Statement following the Award of the 2026 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is thankful to the European Parliament for awarding the Court and its officials this year’s Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. This award comes at a time when the Court and its officials face unprecedented challenges, including sanctions aimed at disrupting the Court’s judicial mandate.

Against this backdrop, the Sakharov Prize carries particular significance, reaffirming the importance of independent judicial institutions and of those who work to uphold international law. It underscores the importance of continued international cooperation and support to enable the Court to carry out its mandate independently and impartially, in the service of justice and the victims of the gravest crimes.

While this prize recognises the work of the Court in combating impunity and ensuring fair trials, it is also an important recognition of the role of international justice as a cornerstone of lasting peace. In a world marked by rising conflicts, there is no peace without justice and no security without law.

For further information, please contact the ICC Public Affairs Unit: PublicAffairs.Unit@icc-cpi.int . You can also follow the Court’s activities on Twitter/X, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Flickr.