Insights & Updates, Legal, Peace, & Security Frameworks

NEW PUBLICATION: The International Court of Justice

The United Nations has officially released a significant commemorative book, The International Court of Justice: 80 Years in the Service of Peace and Justice, marking exactly eight decades since the World Court’s historic inaugural sitting on 18 April 1946 at the Peace Palace in The Hague. Produced entirely by the ICJ Registry, this accessible handbook breaks down the Court’s foundational mechanics, guides readers through the inner workings of international law, and provides comprehensive answers to frequently asked structural questions regarding global dispute resolution.

The International Court of Justice: 80 Years in the Service of Peace and Justice, published to commemorate eight decades of permanent international adjudication at the Peace Palace in The Hague.
The International Court of Justice: 80 Years in the Service of Peace and Justice, published to commemorate eight decades of permanent international adjudication at the Peace Palace in The Hague. Photo by Samuel Girven.

 

📘 Inside the Publication

  • How the 15-judge panel is elected.
  • The difference between contentious cases and advisory opinions.
  • How the Registry manages global treaty filings.

📖 About The Publication

This book has been published to mark the eightieth anniversary of the inaugural sitting of the ICJ, held on 18 April 1946 at the Peace Palace in The Hague. Produced entirely by the Registry, it has been designed specifically with the general public in mind and describes the Court, its role and its activities in clear and accessible language, with the aim of fostering a better understanding of the institution and providing answers to the most frequently asked questions about the Court. Readers will find information on how the Court functions, with each short chapter covering a different facet of the institution. They will learn about the history of the Court, about its Registry and its judges, about the entities that can participate in proceedings before it, as well as the principles governing its judicial activity and the contribution made by the Court to certain areas of international law. In publishing this new book for the general public, the Registry wishes to shed fresh light on the work of the Court while at the same time celebrating what the institution has accomplished since its creation, and paying tribute to all those who have contributed to its success over the past 80 years.

Get a Copy

Official acquisition pathways and digital editions can be accessed directly via the United Nations iLibrary Portal.