International Court of Justice celebrates 60 years

The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, celebrated 60 years with a “solemn sitting” in the presence of Her Majesty Queen of the Netherlands on Wednesday. United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, said that the rules of international law “play an increasing role in our global society” which reflect “the reality, but also the promise, of our international order” and “show the world not only as it is, but as it ought to be.”

He encouraged “all States that have not yet done so to consider recognizing the compulsory jurisdiction of the Court”, inviting those who “are not yet prepared to [do so] to consider submitting their disputes to the Court by Special Agreements.”

The first Members of the International Court were elected on 6 February 1946 at the First Session of the General Assembly, held in London.