International Criminal Court wins EU's Sakharov Prize

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 22 Oct, 19:09 · Archive

The International Criminal Court has won the European Parliament's Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, worth €50,000. The award honours defenders of human rights and freedom of thought. Past recipients have included Nelson Mandela, Alexei Navalny and the people of Ukraine.

The Socialists and Democrats group nominated the ICC following US President Donald Trump's sanctions on the court, announced on 9 October. The prize was awarded despite opposition from the European People's Party, which had nominated Tanzanian politician Tundu Lissu. The Patriots group had nominated Iranian twin sisters imprisoned for protesting, one of whom has been sentenced to death.

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola announced the decision, saying '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.' Spanish S&D lawmaker Hana Jalloul, a promoter of the ICC nomination, told Politico: 'It is a great achievement for the European Socialists that we led this proposal despite the EPP's opposition. We are on the right side of history.'

How it is being reported

• US-sanctioned ICC wins top EU human rights awardThe EU has awarded the International Criminal Court its top human rights award.Al Jazeera · 22 Oct, 18:46
• Trump-sanctioned ICC wins EU Parliament’s human rights prizeCourt nominated by center-left weeks after sanctions imposed by Donald Trump.Politico Europe · 22 Oct, 10:23

In this story: International Criminal Court · European Parliament · Donald Trump · Roberta Metsola · Tundu Lissu · Hana Jalloul

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