Overview

• Karim Khan, chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, has taken a leave of absence pending the outcome of a UN-led investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct.
• The allegations involve claims of unwanted sexual contact and coercion over a year, which Khan denies, stating his decision is to protect the court's credibility.
• The ICC’s two deputy prosecutors will oversee operations in Khan’s absence, ensuring continuity in the court’s high-profile war crimes investigations.
• Khan’s leave adds to the ICC’s challenges, including U.S. sanctions imposed over its arrest warrants for Israeli officials and ongoing probes into alleged war crimes in Gaza and Ukraine.
• The UN’s Office of Internal Oversight Services began its investigation in November 2024, with recent interviews suggesting the inquiry is nearing its conclusion.