International Court of Justice 70th Anniversary!

International Court of Justice, the “World Court”

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations (Art. 7, UN Charter) and it was established by the United Nations Charter. The Charter of the United Nations and the Statute of the International Court of Justice, which forms an integral part of the Charter, were signed in San Francisco on 26 June 1945 and came into force on 24 October 1945.  The first Members of the Court were elected on 6 February 1946 at the First Session of the General Assembly, held in London. They convened for the first time at the Peace Palace, The Hague, on 3 April 1946. On 6 April 1946, the new Court elected its President, Vice-President and Registrar. Its inaugural sitting took place on 18 April 1946. The opening session of the ICJ at the Peace Palace took place in the presence of Princess Juliana and Prince Bernhard.

The International Court of Justice is composed of 15 judges who are elected by the General Assembly and the Security Council for a nine year term of office. The ICJ's role in the fulfillment of the purposes of the UN is “to bring about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations which might lead to a breach of the peace” (Art. 1, UN Charter). To this end it settles legal disputes submitted to it by States (contentious procedure) and gives advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by authorized United Nations organs and specialized agencies (advisory procedure). It functions in accordance with its Statute which forms an integral part of the Charter (Art. 92, UN Charter). The official languages of the Court are English and French. Also known as the “World Court”, it is the only court of a universal character with general jurisdiction.

International Court of Justice at 70: in retrospect and in prospect

The Secretary General of the United Nations Mr Ban Ki-moon said in his address that “over the years, the International Court  of  Justice, as the  principal  judicial  organ  of  the  United  Nations, has  made a central contribution to  the  rule  of  law. It has stepped in effectively where  diplomatic  or political measures have failed. It has helped countries to settle their disputes by peaceful means. And it has compiled  a  solid  record  of effective  and  impartial  judgments, thereby building global  trust  in  the Court’s work and faith in the power of law”. He further observed that United Nations “Member States  are turning  to  the  Court  on some  of  their  most  complex matters ” and that the Court’s “judgments  are  delivered  more  swiftly,  leading  to  increased  certainty  for  the  parties”. “The judges have repeatedly demonstrated their expertise in technically difficult and politically sensitive fields, including maritime and territorial disputes”, the Secretary General added, stating that he “welcome these advances and commend the judges and staff of the Court for their diligence and commitment”.

In his speech, Mr Bert Koenders, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands said that “throughout its 70 years of existence, the Court has always defended its legal integrity”. He went on to say that “the Court’s judgments are authoritative: it succeeds in ensuring that its decisions are complied with, even by those States that it has been obliged to disappoint. Not by despatching international bailiffs and police officers; but, above all, thanks to the quality of its decisions, of which it has already delivered over a hundred”. The Minister added that “the Court has of course been able to ensure compliance with its judgments through its intellectual authority, but that unfortunately that is no guarantee of lasting progress towards an international legal order”. “International law”, said Mr. Koenders, “can describe and prescribe, prosecute and condemn. However. . . it remains powerless if it is not reflected in action by the United Nations General Assembly and particularly by the Security Council. The Netherlands seeks to enhance the effectiveness of the Security Council and strengthen its legitimacy, to make it the sword of international law, alongside the Court, which is its shield”. “New times bring new challenges; the Court is no exception to this rule. Trends observed at the national level can also be seen in the international legal order: cases are more technical, more complex, and require new expertise. It is therefore essential to preserve the Court’s tradition by appointing qualified and competent judges, who are, and will remain, representative of the world in all its diversity and complexity”, he stated.

In a video message shown during the solemn sitting, the President of the United Nations Security Council, Mr. Liu Jieyi, observed that “the Court in its 70-year journey has stood the test of time, as evidenced by over 120 judgments and nearly 30 advisory opinions on a wide range of important issues, thereby contributing to the peaceful settlement of disputes between States, and easing situations that might have otherwise escalated”. “The Court”, he added, “has continuously contributed to the development and authority of international law and the international rule of law. It has played an indispensable role in safeguarding the purposes and principles of the Charter”. Mr. Liu remarked that, in his view, “the Court stands at a new historical starting-point”. “The international community places high hopes in the Court. The Council expects the Court, as a key guardian of the international legal order, to keep abreast of the times and continue to contribute to the lofty goals of the United Nations. The Council, in discharging its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, will remain committed to safeguarding the authority and effectiveness of the international rule of law and will, as always, support the Court in fulfilling its responsibilities”, he continued. “A thousand miles journey starts with the first step”, concluded the President of the Security Council, calling for the Court and the Council to “work together for a world of lasting peace, common prosperity, fairness and justice”.

The Vice-President of the United Nations General Assembly, who was speaking on behalf of Mr. Mogens Lykketoft, President of the seventieth session of the General Assembly, said that “we can congratulate ourselves on 70 years of close collaboration between the General Assembly and the Court in the promotion of the ideals and aspirations of the United Nations”. “During the past seven decades, this Court has shown how much the title by which is popularly known is fully deserved: it is a world court, truly universal not only in its openness to all States, but also in terms of the enormous range of issues with which it deals: boundary disputes, diplomatic protection, genocide, use of force, and even the development of environmental law and human rights, among others”, Mr. Antonio Gumende continued. “In clarifying international law through its advisory opinions, the Court has been fundamental for the United Nations and for the General Assembly in particular”, he added.

Mr. Ronny Abraham, President of the Court, stated that “the political and legal environment in which the Court operates has changed considerably since 1945. However, the need for a world court working for international peace and justice is as strong today as it was when the Charter was first signed. The Court’s judgments on the merits all represent disputes that have been settled, and situations that might otherwise have led to open conflict and that have found a peaceful outcome. Its advisory opinions also play a decisive role”. “In seventy years, the face of the world has changed substantially”, the President observed, adding that “these changes are, of course, reflected in the Court’s work. They have, in particular, had an impact on the type of cases brought before it. Thus. . . the Court has of late had occasion to hear a number of disputes concerning relatively new areas, such as international environmental law. Such cases may involve the analysis of complex factual data, such as raw scientific data and reports by science experts. The Court has also heard a growing number of cases involving alleged violations of human rights and humanitarian law, through which it has been able to develop its jurisprudence, at the same time taking care to consider that of the courts, tribunals and bodies which specialize in these areas, thus ensuring the coherence of international law”.

In conclusion, President Abraham stated that “at 70, the International Court of Justice has reached a serene maturity. Conscious of the importance of the mission with which it has been entrusted by the Member States, it is ready to face the new challenges that might arise in the coming decade. It knows that in doing so it can rely on the dedicated work of all the members of its Registry, who I would like to take the opportunity to thank on this solemn occasion”.