The International Criminal Court has been awarded the European Union's 2026 Sakharov Prize on Thursday (October 22), the EU's top prize regarding human rights work.

The prize is the second international recognition for the war crimes tribunal this month, and comes within two weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump announced sanctions against the court.

That announcement was made hours after former ICC judge Navi Pillay was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, which was widely seen as a show of support for the embattled court.

The Hague-based ICC has long been a target of U.S. President Donald Trump, whose campaign against it has escalated since the court announced arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister last year.

The EU prize, named after the late Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov, has been awarded annually since 1988 to individuals and organizations defending human rights and freedom.

"This award comes at a time when the Court and its officials face unprecedented challenges, including sanctions aimed at disrupting the Court’s judicial mandate," the statement reads.

"It underscores the importance of continued international cooperation and support to enable the Court to carry out its mandate independently and impartially, in the service of justice and the victims of the gravest crimes."

"There is no peace without justice and no security without law."

The EU prize, named after the late Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov, has been awarded annually since 1988 to individuals and organizations defending human rights and freedoms.

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REFILE: International Criminal Court wins EU's 2026 Sakharov prize

VIDEO SHOWS: EU PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT ROBERTA METSOLA ANNOUNCING 2026 SAKHAROV PRIZE

SHOWS: STRASBOURG, FRANCE (OCTOBER 22, 2026) (EUROPEAN UNION - Access all)

1. SOUNDBITE (English) EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT, ROBERTA METSOLA, SAYING (SOUNDBITE STARTING OVER SHOT OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT):

“Following today's decision by the Conference of Presidents, I am able to announce that the 2026 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought has been awarded to the International Criminal Court and its officials.”

2. VARIOUS OF EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT MEMBERS APPLAUDING

3. SOUNDBITE (English) EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT, ROBERTA METSOLA, SAYING (SOUNDBITE STARTING OVER SHOT OF APPLAUDING EU PARLIAMENT MEMBERS):

“The European Union is built on respect for multilateralism and international institutions, and this prize recognizes the important work of the court in upholding international law and justice.”

4. EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

INTERNET (OCTOBER 22, 2026) (INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT - Access all) (MUTE)

5. VARIOUS SCREEN GRABS OF ICC STATEMENT READING:

"The International Criminal Court (ICC) is thankful to the European Parliament for awarding the Court and its officials this year’s Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. This award comes at a time when the Court and its officials face unprecedented challenges, including sanctions aimed at disrupting the Court’s judicial mandate.

Against this backdrop, the Sakharov Prize carries particular significance, reaffirming the importance of independent judicial institutions and of those who work to uphold international law. It underscores the importance of continued international cooperation and support to enable the Court to carry out its mandate independently and impartially, in the service of justice and the victims of the gravest crimes.

While this prize recognises the work of the Court in combating impunity and ensuring fair trials, it is also an important recognition of the role of international justice as a cornerstone of lasting peace. In a world marked by rising conflicts, there is no peace without justice and no security without law."