Nobel Laureate Navi Pillay Seeks Global Support to Defend ICC After US Sanctions

Indian-origin jurist Navi Pillay has called on world leaders to save the International Criminal Court (ICC) after Washington announced sweeping new sanctions following her receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. The South African-born jurist previously served as a judge at the ICC. On Monday, Pillay called for “collective action, not just words” from the rest of the world.

Pillay had sharp words for Trump, who has coveted the Nobel Peace Prize for years. She described Washington’s attacks on the ICC as "completely unlawful” and “negative and cruel". She told The Associated Press in an interview, "Heads of countries have a particular responsibility to spell out the principles, which is that you respect the law, you respect international law."

Hours after the announcement of her award in Oslo, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced sanctions targeting the ICC as part of Washington’s campaign against the institution. The 85-year-old jurist called on countries to defend the court and the international legal order more broadly.

Pillay said impunity was unpopular everywhere and that the public wanted justice. People were dismayed, she said, that powerful countries such as Russia and the United States were not members of the ICC but held seats on the United Nations Security Council, where they could veto efforts to hold them accountable.

Pillay faced strong criticism from Israel for chairing a UN commission on Gaza, which concluded last year that Israel had committed genocide in the Palestinian territory with the specific intent to destroy Palestinians in Gaza. Pillay dismissed Israel’s response, saying that only the US and Israel had challenged the commission’s conclusions.

“We just have this condemnation by the state of Israel because they are the ones that we have held responsible,” she said.

Human rights groups and several experts on genocide have reached similar conclusions. The ICC has issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel strongly denies the allegations.

‘Justice is Slow, So We Must not be Impatient’: Pillay

Pillay said that although the world might seem to be facing significant challenges, international law was a relatively recent development in human history. “Justice is slow, so we must not be impatient,” she said.

However, she cautioned people against becoming complacent and urged them to look at the world through the eyes of a judge. “Don’t fall for false propaganda or just repeat slogans,” Pillay added, encouraging people to evaluate the evidence.

Pillay, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize last week, said on Monday that she had needed written confirmation before believing the news. “I received the letter in writing so now I have read it for myself, and it’s true,” said Pillay. She received the honour for her efforts to advance international law at a time when the international legal system faces mounting challenges.