Law in Practice — US Sanctions Target the ICC Itself, as the UN80 Reform Drive Asks Who International Organizations Represent

This week in Law

US Sanctions Target the ICC Itself — and the UN's Reform Drive Asks Who International Organizations Represent

On 9 October 2026 the US State Department sanctioned the International Criminal Court as an institution, banning transactions with it, freezing its assets in US jurisdiction and exposing companies that provide it services — beyond the earlier measures against individual judges and prosecutors. UN Secretary-General António Guterres called it "a serious blow to international criminal justice". For counsel advising on international criminal proceedings, sanctions compliance or State immunity, the episode raises hard questions about treaty obligations for non-parties and the options open to a court under coercive measures. In parallel, the UN's UN80 reform initiative is in a new phase, reviving the debate over the legitimacy and representativeness of international organizations.

Akehurst's Modern Introduction to International Law, 10th ed

The tenth edition, revised by Professor Alexander Orakhelashvili, adds more than forty-five court decisions since the ninth edition. Its chapters on international criminal justice, State jurisdiction and immunity, and State responsibility give counsel a compact grounding for the questions the ICC sanctions raise. A print-on-demand title (typically 1–3 weeks).

Order Now →

Democratic Representation in International Organizations

As UN80 reform proposals — from Security Council enlargement to agency restructuring — are debated, this Cambridge volume edited by Samantha Besson asks who international organizations actually represent. Useful for counsel and policy advisers working with multilateral institutions. A print-on-demand title (typically 1–3 weeks).

Order Now →

CLNZ Books' Law collection brings together recent titles from leading publishers in international law, arbitration and comparative law. Explore the Law collection →