Contentious cases and advisory opinions at the International Court of Justice

Background

The International Court of Justice settles, in accordance with international law, legal disputes submitted to it by States and gives advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by authorized United Nations organs and specialized agencies. Article 34 of the Statute provides that only states may be parties in cases before the Court. The Court can deal with a dispute only when the States concerned have accepted its jurisdiction, for example by special agreement, through a treaty clause or through declarations recognizing its jurisdiction as compulsory. Advisory opinions are generally not binding on the requesting body.