What is the International Court of Justice?

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is an international organization that administers justice between countries. The ICJ is commonly referred to as the “World Court”, and it is the main judicial branch of the United Nations (UN). The Court is based in The Hague, Netherlands. Its main role is to settle disputes between UN member countries on matters of international law. These disputes may be related to human rights, international trade, the environment, or other matters. The ICJ is composed of 15 justices, each from a different country. These justices serve nine-year terms, and can be removed from office at the end of their term. Judges are elected by the UN General Assembly and the UN Security Council. The ICJ is the only court that can officially render a binding decision on a matter of international law. The jurisdiction of the ICJ is limited to cases in which two countries have accepted the Court’s jurisdiction. The United States and Indiana have both accepted the Court’s jurisdiction. This means that either the U.S. or Indiana can file a case against another country concerning an issue of human rights law, and the ICJ is the court in which the case can be legally adjudicated. The ICJ is an important international institution that works to protect human rights all around the world. Its decisions are legally binding and have a major impact on how international law is applied and interpreted. Even though the ICJ does not have a physical presence in Indiana, the decisions the court renders help to ensure that countries, including the United States and Indiana, comply with international law.

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