About this Committee

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. The Court’s primary task is to settle international disputes between member states, whose participation in cases is entirely voluntary (both parties must agree to bring a case before the ICJ in order for the case to be heard). It is essential to note that the ICJ is not a criminal court; it should not be confused with the International Criminal Court (ICC), a much more recent international institution which hears cases where an individual was accused of a crime. The ICJ hears disputes between states and does not have the jurisdiction to adjudicate anything else. Cases before the ICJ adhere to the rules of judicial procedure and are heard by 15 judges from a wide variety of states, backgrounds, and legal systems.