Who runs the ICJ? What did ICJ decide?

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations and the only international court that adjudicates general disputes between nations. It also gives advisory opinions on international legal issues to certain UN organs and agencies.

The ICJ is composed of 15 judges elected by the UN General Assembly and Security Council for nine-year terms. The ICJ is located in The Hague, Netherlands, in the Peace Palace. The ICJ decides cases based on its Statute, which is an integral part of the UN Charter, and on international treaties, conventions, declarations, resolutions, customs, general principles of law and judicial decisions.

The ICJ has jurisdiction over cases that are submitted to it by States that have accepted its jurisdiction, either in general or for a specific case, or by special agreement between the parties. The ICJ can also issue advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by the UN General Assembly, Security Council or other authorized organs and agencies.

The ICJ has dealt with various cases involving territorial disputes, maritime boundaries, diplomatic relations, human rights, environmental protection, genocide, self-determination, use of force and international humanitarian law.

Some of the most notable cases include the Corfu Channel case (1949), the South West Africa cases (1966), the Nuclear Tests cases (1974), the Nicaragua case (1986), the Bosnia and Herzegovina case (2007), the Kosovo case (2010) and the Myanmar case (2020). As of 13 November 2023, the ICJ has entertained 191 cases.