Knowra International Court of Justice International Court of Justice The United Nations’ principal judicial organ settles legal disputes between states that accept its jurisdiction and gives advisory opinions on international law.
Contentious jurisdiction : A court’s authority to resolve disputes between opposing parties. The ICJ hears contentious cases only between states, and its authority depends on their consent.
International law : The rules and principles governing relations among states and other international actors. The Court applies international law when deciding disputes and formulating advisory opinions.
Corfu Channel case : A 1949 ICJ case concerning mines in Albanian waters and the United Kingdom’s passage through the Corfu Strait. The judgment addressed state responsibility, evidence, and the limits of intervention in another state’s territory.
International Criminal Court : A treaty-based court that prosecutes individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and aggression. Unlike the ICJ, it tries individuals rather than deciding legal disputes between states.
United Nations Security Council : The UN organ primarily responsible for maintaining international peace and security. Under the UN Charter, a party may turn to the Security Council when another state fails to comply with an ICJ judgment.
Compromissory clause : A treaty provision that gives a court jurisdiction over disputes concerning that treaty. States can accept ICJ jurisdiction in advance through clauses in treaties.
United Nations : An intergovernmental organization founded in 1945 to maintain peace, develop cooperation, and promote human rights. The ICJ is a principal organ of the United Nations.
Nicaragua v. United States : A 1986 ICJ case holding the United States responsible for unlawful uses of force and intervention against Nicaragua. The case tested jurisdiction and clarified rules on force and non-intervention.
Permanent Court of Arbitration : An intergovernmental institution that facilitates arbitration and other dispute-resolution proceedings. It can administer state disputes, but unlike the ICJ it is not a standing court with a fixed bench of judges.
Enforcement of international law : The processes through which international legal obligations are encouraged or compelled to be observed. The ICJ issues binding judgments between parties, but has no independent enforcement arm.
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