ICC member states vote in New York on whether to remove prosecutor Karim Khan

Member states of the International Criminal Court are voting in New York on whether to remove prosecutor Karim Khan over sexual misconduct allegations. The secret-ballot vote is taking place at United Nations headquarters and is expected to determine whether he remains in office. Khan has been suspended from his official duties while the process is under way.

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The court's 125 member states are taking part in the decision, with an absolute majority of at least 63 votes needed to remove him. The vote is scheduled for about 3pm local time, with the result expected later in the day. Khan, who is 56, denies the allegations and has said the process against him is unjustified and unlawful.

The allegations concern claims that he sexually harassed a junior colleague who worked as his direct assistant. The accuser, identified only as Sarah, has said in media interviews that the behaviour escalated over time and included unwanted touching. Khan's lawyer has denied any sexual contact or relationship, whether consensual or non-consensual, with the alleged victim.

The decision matters because the prosecutor is the public face of the court's investigations, including work linked to alleged war crimes in Gaza. Khan's suspension followed a UN investigative report, advice from an ad hoc panel of judicial experts and written submissions reviewed by the court's oversight body. If member states vote to remove him, the ICC would begin the process of selecting a replacement, although a new prosecutor is not expected to be chosen before next year.

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The case has developed over more than two years and has placed the tribunal under pressure at a sensitive moment for international justice. The ICC's rules mean that even if Khan is dismissed, any active warrants would remain in place because only judges can withdraw them. His legal team has also argued that he should be allowed to answer the charges at the vote, although he is barred from attending.

What happens next depends on the outcome of the ballot and any subsequent replacement process. The result is expected to clarify whether the court's member states believe the allegations are serious enough to end Khan's tenure. It will also determine how quickly the ICC can move to appoint a new prosecutor and whether the institution can limit further disruption to its ongoing work.

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