Human Rights Watch, along with the American Friends Service Committee, the Centre for Constitutional Rights, and the Open Society Institute, filed a lawsuit on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, against the Trump administration's campaign against the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The complaint, filed in the Southern District of New York, argues that the sanctions imposed by the administration against the ICC, its judges and prosecutors, and organizations cooperating with the court, undermine efforts to prosecute those responsible for serious crimes against humanity. The groups contend these sanctions violate the constitutional rights of US citizens and organizations, including their First and Fifth Amendment rights and protections under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

The lawsuit claims the sanctions have forced the groups to curtail a wide range of human rights and legal activities, such as representing victims of war crimes, making legal and policy submissions to the ICC, and collaborating with sanctioned Palestinian human rights groups on litigation, advocacy, research, and humanitarian aid.

According to a Human Rights Watch statement, the lawsuit also alleges that former President Donald Trump exceeded his presidential authority by declaring a "pseudo ‘national emergency’ that has no basis in fact" to justify the sanctions.

Joyce Ajlouny, general-secretary of the American Friends Service Committee, described the sanctions as "an affront to all victims and survivors of war crimes and genocide." James Goldston, executive director of the Open Society Justice Initiative, said, "These sanctions are an assault on the rule of law, independent judges and prosecutors, and civil society in the United States and around the world."

Andrew Loewenstein of Foley Hoag LLP, lead counsel for the plaintiffs, emphasized the broad coalition of human rights and humanitarian organizations opposing the executive order, noting the widespread harm it causes to civil society groups dedicated to justice.

The US State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

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