International Court of Justice

Established    : 1945
Headquarter  : The Hague, Netherlands.

The International Court of Justice is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. Its seat is at the Peace Palace in the Hague (Netherlands). It is the only one of the six principal organs of the United Nations 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.

• Decides disputes between states that recognize its jurisdiction;
• Issues legal opinions;
• Renders judgement by relative majority. Its fifteen judges are elected by the UN General Assembly for nine-year terms.

The ICJ is composed of fifteen judges elected to nine-year terms by the UN General Assembly and the UN Security Council. The President and Vice-President are elected by the Members of the Court every three years by secret ballot. An absolute majority is required and there are no conditions of nationality. The President and Vice-President may be re-elected.