Published on: 2026-07-24
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
July 24, 2026 International law
International Criminal Court Prosecutor Karim Khan was removed from office following a disciplinary proceeding related to widely publicized allegations of sexual harassment. The decision was made on Friday during an extraordinary session of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute, held at the United Nations headquarters in New York.
The decision was made by a simple majority vote during a closed voting of 125 states – Assembly participants. Karim Khan was elected for a nine-year term as ICC prosecutor in 2021.
“The Assembly, by a majority of 82 member states, decided that Prosecutor Karim Khan committed a serious misconduct and grossly violated his official duties… and resolved to suspend him from office,” announced the Chairman of the Assembly, urging respect for the dignity and the right to privacy of all parties involved in the case.
The ICC, which cooperates with the UN under a special agreement, has issued several high-profile arrest warrants in recent years, including against Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2023 and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in 2024.
In the near future, the Assembly of States Parties is to elect a new prosecutor of the court.
Sentences and restrictions
Since its establishment in 2002 based on the Rome Statute, the ICC has set international standards for addressing the most serious crimes. To date, the court has delivered seven guilty verdicts, and 34 cases are currently in its proceedings.
At the same time, the ICC does not have its own mechanisms to arrest suspects and is fully dependent on cooperation from states, primarily its 125 member states.
Not all countries have joined the Rome Statute. In particular, Israel and the United States signed the document in 2000 but have not ratified it to this day.
In 2025, the US authorities imposed sanctions on nine ICC employees, including judges, the prosecutor, and his deputies, in connection with investigations into alleged war crimes related to Israel and the United States.
Investigation timeline
Allegations of misconduct against Karim Khan were made in 2024.
In November 2024, the ICC instructed the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) to conduct an independent investigation.
In May 2025, Karim Khan announced that he was going on leave during the ICC investigation, and the leadership of the Prosecutor’s Office was temporarily transferred to his deputies.
In March 2026, the Assembly received the conclusions of a group of independent judicial experts.
In June, the Assembly Bureau prepared an assessment based on the UNHCR report, collected evidence, recommendations of judicial experts, and written submissions from the parties.
At the meeting on June 8, the Bureau, by a qualified majority, referred the disciplinary case for consideration by the Assembly, decided to immediately suspend the prosecutor from performing duties until a final decision is made, and to convene a special session.
International Criminal Court
The International Criminal Court handles cases against individuals accused of war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and the crime of aggression.
It was created with the thought of “millions of children, women, and men” who became victims of “unimaginable atrocities deeply disturbing the conscience of humanity.” This is the first permanent international criminal court established by an international treaty, authorized to investigate such crimes and hold the perpetrators accountable.
The ICC does not replace national courts. It acts as a court of last resort. The primary responsibility for investigating, prosecuting and punishing those responsible for the most serious crimes lies with the states.
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