The International Court of Justice: The Principal Judicial Organ of the United Nations

Background

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations (UN). It was established in 1945 by the Charter of the UN and is headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands. The ICJ's mission is to settle disputes between states in accordance with international law and to give advisory opinions on legal questions submitted to it by authorized international organs and agencies.

Function and Jurisdiction

The ICJ has exclusive jurisdiction over all disputes referred to it by states. It can also provide advisory opinions on legal questions submitted to it by authorized international organs and agencies. The ICJ's decisions are binding on the parties involved in the dispute.

Composition

The ICJ is composed of 15 judges elected by the General Assembly and the Security Council of the UN. The judges are elected for a term of nine years and are eligible for re-election. The ICJ's presidency is rotated every three years.

Caseload and Notable Decisions

The ICJ has handled a wide range of cases throughout its history. Some of its most notable decisions include: * The Corfu Channel case (1949), in which the ICJ ruled that Albania was liable for damage caused to British ships in its territorial waters. * The Nuclear Tests case (1974), in which the ICJ ruled that France's atmospheric nuclear tests in the South Pacific were unlawful. * The Genocide Convention case (1993), in which the ICJ ruled that Serbia and Montenegro was responsible for genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina.