The Court shall be independent and shall exercise its judicial, investigative, prosecutorial, administrative, financial, and enforcement functions without political interference.
No State, government, monarch, president, minister, political party, military authority, public official, international organisation, private organisation, donor, business, religious authority, media organisation, or other person or body shall unlawfully interfere with the work of the Court.
No person shall be exempt from the jurisdiction of the Court solely because of their official, political, military, royal, religious, economic, social, or other status.
The holding or former holding of public office shall not prevent investigation, arrest, prosecution, trial, conviction, sentencing, or enforcement of a lawful judgment of the Court.
This Article applies equally to Heads of State, Heads of Government, monarchs, members of royal families, ministers, legislators, judges, military commanders, police officials, diplomats, religious leaders, corporate executives, and other persons exercising public or significant private authority.
No person shall use their office, position, wealth, influence, political authority, military authority, religious authority, or control of public institutions to obstruct, intimidate, threaten, bribe, corrupt, delay, or otherwise interfere with the Court.
Any attempt to improperly influence a judge, prosecutor, investigator, Court Enforcement Officer, witness, victim, member of Court staff, or other participant in proceedings shall constitute a serious matter subject to investigation and appropriate legal action.
Judges shall decide cases independently and shall not receive instructions concerning the outcome of a case from any external person or organisation.
Prosecutors and investigators shall exercise their functions independently and shall not be directed to open, close, alter, delay, or abandon a case for political, financial, religious, personal, or other improper reasons.
Court Enforcement Officers shall act independently in carrying out lawful Court orders and shall not accept instructions from political authorities concerning whether or how a lawful Court order should be executed, except where this Treaty or applicable law expressly requires cooperation with national authorities.
No State, organisation, donor, media organisation, or other person shall be permitted to condition financial, technological, logistical, political, or other support upon a particular judicial or investigative outcome.
No person shall be threatened with financial withdrawal, dismissal, removal, retaliation, violence, sanctions, intimidation, or other punishment for lawfully performing their duties on behalf of the Court.
Judges, prosecutors, investigators, Court Enforcement Officers, and other authorised Court personnel shall have appropriate protections necessary to perform their functions independently and safely.
The Court may establish security measures for judges, prosecutors, investigators, victims, witnesses, Court personnel, and their immediate families where credible threats arise from their work for the Court.
The Court shall establish procedures for reporting and investigating allegations of political interference, corruption, bribery, intimidation, coercion, or obstruction involving any person connected with the Court.
Where credible evidence indicates an attempt by a State, government, organisation, or individual to interfere improperly with the Court, the Court may publicly identify and report the interference and may refer the matter to the appropriate authorities or bodies.
The Court shall not alter its judicial decisions solely because a State, organisation, political authority, donor, media organisation, or other person threatens to withdraw cooperation, funding, recognition, or other support.
No amendment, administrative decision, financial decision, or other action shall be used for the purpose of unlawfully controlling or weakening the judicial independence of the Court.
The Court shall maintain a clear separation between its judicial functions and its financial, administrative, prosecutorial, investigative, enforcement, and media functions.
Nothing in this Article shall prevent legitimate public criticism, peaceful protest, academic discussion, journalism, political debate, or other lawful expression concerning the Court.
The independence of the Court shall be regarded as a fundamental and permanent principle of this Treaty.
The Rules of the Court shall establish additional safeguards against political interference, corruption, conflicts of interest, coercion, intimidation, bribery, and improper influence.