Nobel Peace Prize laureate Navi Pillay has condemned recent sanctions imposed by the United States on the International Criminal Court (ICC), describing the measures as “unheard of” and “unacceptable.” Speaking via video link from Nuremberg during an event at the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo on Saturday, Pillay expressed concern over growing tensions surrounding the ICC’s role in international justice.

“There is so much tension and anxiety over the continued existence of international courts, mainly the International Criminal Court in The Hague,” Pillay said. She also noted the impact on ICC personnel, stating that hundreds of staff members feel threatened amid the escalating pressure. “Most importantly, sanctions have been announced by one country against the judges, just for the judicial orders they issue,” she added. Pillay, who is 85 and a former UN rights chief as well as a past member of the ICC, was named this year’s Nobel Peace Prize recipient by the Norwegian Nobel Committee on Friday.

The awarding of the prize to Pillay, who has played a significant role in international human rights and justice, was met with criticism from both the United States and Israel. Shortly after her announcement as laureate, the U.S. government announced new sanctions against the ICC, prompting widespread condemnation from member states and the United Nations.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the ICC as a “rogue court” and declared that Washington would prohibit transactions with the tribunal. The ICC responded to the sanctions by denouncing them as an assault on international law, cautioning that “history will judge this moment.”

The dispute highlights the escalating tensions between the ICC’s efforts to hold individuals accountable for alleged international crimes and the opposition from certain countries challenging its jurisdiction and legitimacy. Pillay’s remarks underscored the critical nature of preserving independent judicial processes and international cooperation in the pursuit of justice.