International Court of Justice

How it is used

Shortened to ICJ and sometimes called the World Court. It has 15 judges elected for nine-year terms, and only states can be parties to its contentious cases. Do not confuse it with the International Criminal Court (ICC), which tries individuals.

Example sentences

1. The two states agreed to take their border dispute to the International Court of Justice.

2. The General Assembly asked the International Court of Justice for an advisory opinion.

3. Judgments of the International Court of Justice are binding on the parties to the case.

Common collocations

• ICJ ruling
• advisory opinion
• bring a case before the ICJ
• ICJ judgment
• World Court

Related terms

• international lawThe body of rules that governs relations between states and other international actors, based mainly on treaties, custom and general principles of law.
• United NationsThe global organisation set up in 1945 to keep international peace and security, build friendly relations between nations and encourage cooperation; almost every state is a member.
• bindingCreating a legal obligation that the parties must follow, so that a binding agreement or decision cannot simply be ignored.
• customary international lawRules of international law that come from the general and consistent practice of states, followed because states believe they are legally required to follow them.

More terms: International Law & Human Rights

• human rights
• territorial integrity
• self-determination
• recognition
• refugee
• asylum
• non-intervention