ICC body urges Chad and Venezuela to reverse course on withdrawal

International court’s oversight body warns exits threaten global justice, as US intensifies campaign against tribunal.The body that oversees the International Criminal Court has called on Chad and Venezuela to abandon their withdrawals from the institution, warning that their departure risks weakening the global fight against impunity.In a statement issued Friday from The Hague, the Assembly of States Parties said it had noted the two countries’ moves “with concern”, urging them to remain committed members and to raise any grievances through dialogue within the assembly rather than leaving altogether.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Mamdani says he takes Netanyahu’s ICC arrest warrant ‘seriously’list 2 of 3Chad to join raft of withdrawals from International Criminal Courtlist 3 of 3What drove Venezuela’s decision to leave the ICC?end of listThe appeal comes as the court faces its most serious wave of departures since its founding in 2002. Five nations have announced plans to exit the court since last year, with the administration of United States President Donald Trump mounting a campaign to curb the tribunal’s power.Chad announced its withdrawal on July 27, arguing that the court’s record was uneven and skewed against Africa. It noted that of the seven suspects currently in ICC custody, six are tied to African cases.Venezuela followed a similar line three days earlier, with Minister of Foreign Affairs Felix Plasencia telling the United Nations that the decision, ordered by Interim President Delcy Rodriguez, was “firm and irrevocable” and accusing the court of geographic bias against Africa and Latin America.Under the founding Rome Statute, a withdrawal takes a year to formally register and does not erase obligations while a state remains a member, nor does it halt cases already under way. That means the ICC’s long-running investigation into Venezuela can continue regardless.