By Martin Banks

Socialist MEPs have nominated International Criminal Court (ICC) and its officials for this year’s Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.

They say that, since its creation, the ICC has “made history” by bringing to book those who recruit child soldiers and are guilty of sexual slavery, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The group, the 2nd biggest in the EU parliament, said, “More recently, the Court has also issued arrest warrants against heads of state and senior officials who remain uncaptured.”

“All of these judgements and warrants reaffirm the Court’s commitment to accountability and justice for the most serious crimes.

It says that, since 2025, the work of the Court and its staff has been “severely damaged” by Executive Order 14203, issued by the United States Government against as many as nine judges of the Court (two of them European, from Slovenia and France) and three deputy prosecutors.

“The S&D Group has decided to nominate the International Criminal Court (ICC) and its officials for the values that the Sakharov Prize seeks to honour. 

“We stand with them.”

Meanwhile, the European Conservatives and Reformists Group has nominated Tanzanian opposition leader and human-rights defender Tundu Lissu for the Sakharov Prize.

A lawyer and Chairman of Tanzania’s main opposition party CHADEMA, Lissu has spent much of his public life campaigning for free and fair elections, constitutional government, freedom of expression and the rule of law.

In 2017, he survived an assassination attempt in which he was shot multiple times. After receiving medical treatment abroad, he returned to Tanzania and resumed his political activities, standing in the 2020 presidential election. In April 2025, he was arrested following a political rally and charged with treason, a capital offence carrying the possibility of the death penalty, added the ECR group.

It says, “Fidanza said Lissu’s nomination was a message of solidarity with those who continue to pursue democratic change despite political persecution.”

For the ECR group, Lissu’s case also highlights the wider importance of protecting political pluralism, civic space and the rule of law in Tanzania and across East Africa.

“Democratic opposition must be able to operate freely, and political disagreement must never be answered with violence, arbitrary detention or the threat of execution.”

The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought is awarded annually by the European Parliament to individuals and organisations that have made an exceptional contribution to the defence of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

The deadline for political groups to submit nominations is 17 September. The candidates will be presented on 1 October at a joint meeting of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Committee on Development.

The Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Development will then select a three-candidate shortlist on 19 October, before the Conference of Presidents chooses the winner. The award ceremony will take place during the December plenary session in Strasbourg.