International Court of Justice

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations (UN). It is often referred to as the “World Court” and it is the only international court that has jurisdiction to settle disputes between states. The ICJ is located in the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands.

Mission of the ICJ

The mission of the ICJ is to:

• Settle, in accordance with international law, legal disputes submitted to it by states
• Give advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by authorized UN organs and specialized agencies

Jurisdiction of the ICJ

The ICJ has jurisdiction to hear and decide disputes between states that have consented to its jurisdiction. States may consent to the ICJ’s jurisdiction in two ways:

1. By becoming a party to the Statute of the ICJ
2. By making a special declaration accepting the ICJ’s jurisdiction

The ICJ also has jurisdiction to give advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by authorized UN organs and specialized agencies. Advisory opinions are not binding on states, but they are highly respected and can have a significant impact on the development of international law.

Composition of the ICJ

The ICJ is composed of 15 judges who are elected by the UN General Assembly and the UN Security Council. The judges are elected for a term of nine years and they may be re-elected. The ICJ is presided over by a President and a Vice-President, who are elected by the judges for a term of three years.

Procedure of the ICJ

The ICJ follows a specific procedure when hearing and deciding disputes. The procedure is set out in the Statute of the ICJ and the Rules of Court of the ICJ. The procedure typically involves the following steps: