Key facts
- International Criminal Court member states will vote on Friday on whether to dismiss chief prosecutor Karim Khan.
- Khan is accused of sexual misconduct by a junior ICC staffer, who claims the relationship was non-consensual due to power disparity.
- Khan denies any sexual relationship and his legal team argues the decision for a vote was unlawful and procedurally unfair.
- A panel of independent judges found no evidence to establish the allegations beyond reasonable doubt.
- The vote requires an absolute majority of at least 63 of the court's 125 member states.
- The U.S. has intensified its campaign against the ICC, which it views as a threat to its sovereignty.
Member states of the International Criminal Court (ICC) are scheduled to vote on Friday on whether to dismiss chief prosecutor Karim Khan due to allegations of sexual misconduct. Khan, 56, denies any wrongdoing. The vote comes at a time when the U.S. has intensified its criticism of the ICC, viewing it as a threat to its sovereignty and initiating diplomatic campaigns against the tribunal.
Khan's accuser, identified only as Sarah, a junior ICC staffer, has publicly repeated her allegations of a non-consensual sexual relationship, citing a significant power disparity. Lawyers for Khan have denied any sexual relationship and described the decision leading to the vote as unlawful and procedurally unfair, pointing to a panel of independent judges who found insufficient evidence to establish the allegations beyond reasonable doubt.
Internal divisions among the court's governing bodies and member states are evident. For Khan to be removed, an absolute majority of at least 63 of the ICC's 125 member states must agree in a secret ballot. Regardless of the outcome, the situation is expected to continue internal turmoil. A dismissal could be perceived as political pressure, particularly after Khan sought arrest warrants for senior Israeli officials. If Khan survives the vote, his position would be weakened, providing further ammunition for critics of the court.
The ICC, established in 2002, prosecutes war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity when member states are unable or unwilling to do so. The U.S. is not a member but the ICC statute allows prosecution of crimes committed on member states' territory by nationals of non-member states. The EU has expressed support for the ICC, but concrete shielding measures from member states remain limited. The International Federation for Human Rights has labeled the U.S. campaign the most serious attack on the court to date.