History
From arbitration in the ancient world to the Permanent Court of International Justice and the Court of today.
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About
The Court
Established in June 1945 by the Charter of the United Nations, at work since April 1946, seated at the Peace Palace in The Hague — the only principal organ of the UN not located in New York.
Mandate
What the Court is
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.
At a glance
1945
established by the Charter of the United Nations, in June
1946
the Court began work, in April
15
judges elected for nine-year terms
6
principal organs of the UN — the Court is the only one outside New York
In this section
The Court, section by section
Members of the Court
The current fifteen judges, all members since 1946, and the Presidency.
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How the Court works
Contentious cases, advisory proceedings, agents and counsel, the written and oral phases.
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Chambers and Committees
The Chamber of Summary Procedure and the Court’s standing committees.
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Judges ad hoc
Judges chosen by a party that has no judge of its nationality on the Bench.
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Financial Assistance to Parties
The Secretary-General’s Trust Fund to assist States in the settlement of disputes through the Court.
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80th Anniversary of the Court
The solemn sitting of 17 April 2026 and the anniversary programme.
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History
The culmination of a long process
The creation of the Court represented the culmination of a long process of developing methods for the pacific settlement of international disputes, the origins of which can be traced back to classical times. Article 33 of the United Nations Charter lists the methods: negotiation, enquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, judicial settlement, and resort to regional agencies or arrangements.
Historically, mediation and arbitration preceded judicial settlement. Judicial settlement — the method applied by the International Court of Justice — subjects a court to stricter rules than an arbitral tribunal, particularly in procedural matters.
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.
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How a case reaches the Court
Special agreements, jurisdictional clauses and optional-clause declarations — and what happens after an application is filed.