18 April 1946

The International Court of Justice holds its inaugural meeting in The Hague, Netherlands.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations (UN). It was established in 1945 and is located in The Hague, Netherlands. The ICJ is responsible for settling legal disputes between states and giving advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by authorized UN organs and specialized agencies.

The court has two main functions: to settle legal disputes between states and to give advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by authorized UN organs and specialized agencies. It has jurisdiction over disputes between states that have accepted its jurisdiction and have submitted to its rulings. The court’s decisions are binding and final, and it has the power to order states to comply with its judgments.

The ICJ is composed of 15 judges who are elected by the UN General Assembly and the Security Council for a term of nine years. The court’s official languages are English and French, and its decisions are made by a majority vote of the judges. The ICJ has dealt with a wide range of legal issues, including territorial disputes, human rights, environmental law, and international criminal law.