The International Court of
Justice, located at the Hague
in the Netherlands, is the principal judicial organ of the United
Nations. It settles legal disputes between states and gives advisory
opinions to the UN and its specialized agencies. Its Statute is an
integral part of the United Nations Charter.
The Court
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the
principal judicial organ of the United Nations (UN). It was established in
June 1945 by the Charter of the United Nations and began work in April 1946.
The seat of the Court is at the Peace Palace in
The Hague (Netherlands). Of the six principal organs of the United Nations, it
is the only one not located in New York (United States of America).
The Court’s role is to settle, in accordance
with international law, legal disputes submitted to it by States and to give
advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by authorized United
Nations organs and specialized agencies.
The Court is composed of 15 judges, who are
elected for terms of office of nine years by the United Nations General
Assembly and the Security Council. It is assisted by a Registry, its
administrative organ. Its official languages are English and French.