EU Hands Top Human Rights Award to ICC, Weeks After Trump Vowed to Dismantle It

The International Criminal Court has received the European Union's top human rights award, a gesture of defiance from Brussels just two weeks after US President Donald Trump vowed to dismantle the court through fresh sanctions.

The award was confirmed by Al Jazeera's NewsFeed on Thursday, October 22, 2026. Footage from the announcement showed a formal ceremony with EU flags behind the stage as officials honoured the tribunal's work.

The timing gives the prize added weight. Earlier this month, Trump said the United States would move to dismantle the Hague-based court with a new round of sanctions, escalating a long confrontation between Washington and the institution over its investigations.

European officials have repeatedly defended the court's independence, arguing that no government should be able to intimidate international justice with financial pressure. The award underlines Brussels' determination to stand behind the tribunal at a moment when its staff and funding are under threat.

The ICC, based in The Hague, is the world's only permanent court for prosecuting genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. The United States is not a member and does not accept its jurisdiction over American personnel, yet successive American presidents have still tried to blunt its reach.

For the court, the EU prize is a rare piece of good news: a public vote of confidence from one of its most important backers, arriving just as Washington is tightening the screws.