April 18 in History
1946 – The International Court of Justice holds its inaugural meeting in The Hague, Netherlands
The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the only international court that adjudicates general disputes between nations, and gives advisory opinions on international legal issues, held its inaugural meeting on this day in 1946. Located in The Hague, Netherlands, the ICJ is one of the six organs of the United Nations (UN), and is the successor of the Permanent Court of International Justice (PCIJ), which was established in 1920 by the League of Nations, which the United Nations also replaced after the Second World War.
The Statute of the ICJ, which sets forth its purpose and structure, draws heavily from that of its predecessor, whose decisions remain valid. All member states of the UN are party to the ICJ Statute and may initiate contentious legal cases; however, advisory proceedings may be submitted only by certain UN organs and agencies.
The ICJ comprises a panel of 15 judges elected by the UN General Assembly and Security Council for nine-year terms. No more than one judge of each nationality may be represented in court at the same time, and judges collectively must reflect the principal civilizations and legal systems of the world. Seated in the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands, the ICJ is the only principal UN organ not located in New York City. Its official working languages are English and French.
Since the entry of its first case on May 22, 1947, the ICJ has entertained 191 cases through November 13, 2023. Under Article 59 of the Statute of the International Court of Justice, the court’s rulings and opinions are binding on the parties with respect to the particular case ruled on by the court.
-Wikipedia
Photo Caption – The seal of the International Court of Justice – Wikipedia
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