Justice

Justice The UN’s main judicial organ is the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and is located in The Hague, Netherlands. The ICJ or World Court was established in and began it functions in . It’s predecessor was the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA). The Court settles disputes between nations and does not take up individual cases according to international law. Unless required by special treaty provisions, a country does not need to take part in a proceeding if it does not wish to. If any country accepts the jurisdiction of the court, then it must comply with its decisions. Since , the ICJ has examined over cases and issued numerous judgements pertaining to economic rights, environmental protection, rights of passage, the non-use of force, non- interference in the internal affairs of states, diplomatic relations, hostage-taking, the right of asylum and nationality. The court is presided by fifteen judges elected for nine year terms, each belonging to a different nation. The judges are selected by both the General Assembly and the Security Council. The court and its offices occupy the ‘Peace Palace’ which was constructed by the Carnegie Foundation which a non-profit Organisation to serve as the headquarters of the Permanent Court of International Justice under the League of Nations. The UN makes an annual contribution to the Foundation for the use of the building. UNSC refer cases to the ICJ. (