§1-Preamble

The International Court of Justice,established as the principal judicial organ of the UN,shall be constituted and shall function in accordance with the provisions of the present Statute.

I-ORGANIZATION

§2-Composition

1. The Court shall be composed by independent judges,elected from among persons of high moral character and recognized competence in international law.
2. The Court shall consist of 15 members,no 2 of whom may be from the same state.
3. The members shall enjoy diplomatic privileges and immunities.
4. The Court shall elect its President,Vice-President and Registrar for 3 years;they may be re-elected.
5. Each member shall receive an annual salary at least twice of average national judge salary.

§3-Mandate

1. The members shall be elected for 9 years and may be re-elected.
2. The members shall continue to discharge their duties until their places have been filled.Though replaced,they shall finish any cases which they may have begun.
3. No member may exercise any political or administrative function,or engage in any other occupation of a professional nature.

II-COMPETENCE

§4-Jurisdiction

1. The jurisdiction comprises all cases which the parties refer to it and all matters provided on conventions,treatiest,except where an existing international body already deals with the issues,and:
   1. the interpretation of a treaty
   2. any question of international law
   3. the breach of an international obligation.
2. The Court shall apply:
   1. international conventions
   2. international custom
   3. the general principles of law.

III-PROCEDURE

§5-Parties of the process

1. Only states may be parties in cases before the Court.
2. The Court may request of public international organizations information relevant to cases before it.

§6–Delegation

The parties shall be represented by agents,with the assistance of counsel or advocates before the Court.They shall enjoy the privileges and immunities necessary to the independent exercise of their duties.

§7-Documents

1. The official languages shall be French and English,but the Court shall authorize the use of other languages.
2. The written proceedings shall consist of the communication to the Court and to the parties of memorials and counter-memorials.

§8-Hearing

1. The oral proceedings shall consist of the hearing by the Court of witnesses,experts,agents,counsel,and advocates.
2. The hearing in Court shall be public.
3. During the hearing any relevant questions are to be put to the witnesses and experts.
4. After the Court has received the proofs and evidence within the time specified for the purpose,it may refuse to accept any further evidence.
5. When the agents,counsel,and advocates have completed their presentation of the case,the President shall declare the hearing closed.
6. The Court shall withdraw to consider the judgment.

§9-Judgement

1. The deliberations shall take place in private and remain secret.
2. The judgment shall state the reasons on which it is based,it shall contain the names of the judges andshall be read in open court.
3. The judgment is final and without appeal.

Votes For: 6125

Votes Against: 10261

Voting Ended: Mon Mar 21 2005

Other resources

• United Nations
• Passed UN Resolutions