International Court of Justice

The International Court of Justice (ICJ), commonly known as the World Court, is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. Established in 1945 by the Charter of the United Nations and the Statute of the International Court of Justice, the Court commenced its work in 1946 as the successor to the Permanent Court of International Justice (PCIJ). Headquartered at the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands, the ICJ is the only principal organ of the United Nations located outside New York City. The Court consists of 15 independent judges elected for nine-year terms by the United Nations General Assembly and the United Nations Security Council, representing the world's principal legal systems and geographical regions.

The International Court of Justice has two principal functions: settling legal disputes submitted by sovereign states in accordance with international law and issuing advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by authorized organs and specialized agencies of the United Nations. Its jurisdiction extends to disputes concerning territorial sovereignty, maritime delimitation, treaty interpretation, diplomatic relations, state responsibility, use of force, environmental protection, human rights, consular relations, and other matters of international law where states have accepted the Court's jurisdiction. Only sovereign states may be parties in contentious proceedings before the ICJ, although international organizations may request advisory opinions through the United Nations framework.

The Court applies a wide range of sources of international law, including international treaties, customary international law, general principles of law recognized by nations, judicial decisions, and the writings of highly qualified publicists, as provided under Article 38 of its Statute. Judgments of the ICJ are final and binding on the parties to a dispute and are not subject to appeal, although interpretation or revision may be sought under limited circumstances. Through its judgments and advisory opinions, the Court has made significant contributions to the development of international law in areas including territorial disputes, maritime boundaries, diplomatic protection, treaty law, environmental law, humanitarian law, and the peaceful settlement of international disputes.

The International Court of Justice works closely with institutions including the United Nations, the United Nations General Assembly, the United Nations Security Council, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), the International Criminal Court (ICC), and the International Law Commission (ILC). It also cooperates with governments, international organizations, and legal institutions worldwide in promoting the peaceful settlement of disputes and the development of international law. Through judicial decision-making, advisory opinions, and the interpretation of international legal principles, the International Court of Justice serves as the principal judicial institution of the United Nations and a cornerstone of the modern international legal order.