International Court of Justice | Mimi Bebe

The International Court of Justice (ICJ), often called the World Court, stands as the principal judicial organ of the [[united-nations-system|United Nations]]. Established in 1945, it is the successor to the Permanent Court of International Justice and is headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands, within the iconic Peace Palace. The ICJ's mandate is twofold: to settle legal disputes submitted to it by states and to provide advisory opinions on legal questions posed by authorized [[united-nations|UN]] organs and specialized agencies. Its rulings are a critical source of [[international-law|international law]], making it the sole international court capable of adjudicating general disputes between sovereign nations. All [[un-member-states|UN member states]] are automatically parties to its statute, underscoring its foundational role in global governance and peaceful dispute resolution.