International Court of Justice
Background
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the primary judicial body for the United Nation). Established in June 1945 by the Charter of the United Nations, the ICJ began work in April 1946. The seat of the Court is at the Peace Palace in The Hague (Netherlands). The Court's primary role is to settle, in accordance with international law, legal disputes submitted to it by States and to give advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by authorized United Nations organs and specialized agencies. The Court is composed of 15 judges, who are elected for terms of office of nine years by the United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council. It is assisted by a Registry, its administrative organ. Its official languages are English and French.
