The International Criminal Court (ICC) is under intense scrutiny as member countries prepare to vote this month on whether to remove Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan following an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct. A female ICC employee, who worked as a direct assistant to Khan, alleged that he sexually harassed her and repeatedly subjected her to non-consensual sexual acts.
Allegations and Investigation
The allegations against Khan first emerged in 2024. The woman, Sarah, has not spoken publicly until now. She described feeling “humiliated” and alleged that the behavior eventually escalated into more aggressive actions. Khan has repeatedly denied the allegations.
A UN investigative report found evidence showing a “factual basis” to the claims based on interviews with Sarah, her colleagues, and other witnesses. However, a separate report by a panel of judicial experts convened by the ICC found that there was “insufficient evidence to support a finding of misconduct”.
Next Steps
The court’s oversight body suspended Khan in June while the disciplinary proceedings played out, and now those proceedings have been referred to the 125 member states of the ICC. Representatives from each member state are expected to decide on July 24 if his suspension will be upheld and what, if any, disciplinary actions will be taken.
Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.
