Legal Definitions - International Court of Justice

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is a part of the United Nations system. It is responsible for settling legal disputes between countries. All United Nations members are automatically considered state parties to the ICJ's Statute.

The ICJ has decided many cases since its creation. You can find the official list of these cases on the ICJ's website. There are also unofficial lists available that include case briefs.

In 2019, the ICJ ruled that Myanmar must take steps to protect the Rohingya Muslim minority from genocide. This decision was made after The Gambia filed a lawsuit against Myanmar, accusing them of violating the Genocide Convention. The ICJ's ruling was seen as a significant step towards holding countries accountable for their treatment of minority groups.

This example illustrates how the ICJ can be used to settle disputes between countries. In this case, The Gambia used the ICJ to hold Myanmar accountable for their actions towards the Rohingya Muslim minority.