What international judicial institutions exist to protect human rights?

There are a number of international judicial institutions that exist to protect human rights around the world. The most prominent of these is the International Court of Justice (also known as the World Court), which is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. This court is charged with settling legal disputes between states and issuing advisory opinions to the UN upon request of any other UN organ or member state. The International Criminal Court (ICC) is another judicial institution that is responsible for trying individuals accused of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. This court is a permanent body located in the Hague, Netherlands and it has jurisdiction over individuals, not member states. The European Court of Human Rights is another key international court; this court is responsible for enforcing the European Convention on Human Rights, which was signed by 47 European countries. This court hears cases brought by individuals claiming that their rights as guaranteed by the convention have been violated. Finally, regional courts exist in some parts of the world, such as the Inter-American Court of Human Rights which is a judicial institution of the Organization of American States. This court hears cases related to violations of human rights in the Americas. All of these courts have been established to protect and uphold human rights around the world.

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