CLASS 7 - INTERNATIONAL DISPUTE SETTLEMENT
Overview Literature:
Henriksen, Chapter 12
Cases:
- ICJ, Legality of Nuclear Weapons Advisory Opinion
- ICJ, Wall, Advisory Opinion
Other materials:
- UN Charter and ICJ Statute;
- Knowledge clips class 6;
- The Guardian News Article: “Vanuatu to seek international court opinion on
climate change rights”
Learning objectives: At the end of this class, students:
- Can name different means of dispute settlement;
- Can understand how the requirement of state consent is manifested in
international dispute settlement
- Can distinguish the ICJ from other courts on the basis of jurisdiction, parties
before the court and subject matter;
- Can name and recognise the four ways in which jurisdiction of the ICJ can be
accepted by parties to a dispute;
- Are able to explain the difference between jurisdiction in contentious
proceedings and advisory opinions.
- Understand the different competences of the UNSC and the UNGA
, Notes
Differences between contentious jurisdiction and advisory jurisdiction
Contentious
- Access: only States, no IO’s
- Settle disputes between States
- Judgements are binding on parties to the case
Advisory
- Only organs of UN and international organisations, no States
- Clarify legal questions, no disputes
- Advisory opinions not binding
Arbitration: solved with a court but not the ICJ. General name. Select your own
judges, ad hoc.
Difference ICJ and arbitration
- Select your own judges
- Determine what laws apply, not the general international law used
- Design the process/system
- Faster
- Tailor fit
Jurisdiction of the ICJ
States can’t be obliged to go to court because of sovereignty.
Going to court is voluntary.
Article 2 UN Charter paragraph 3: international dispute settlement should happen
in a peaceful way.
Paragraph 4: prohibition of the use of force.
ICJ only has jurisdiction if States consent to jurisdiction of the court. There are
four ways in which states can accept the ICJ’s jurisdiction.
ICJ rules, art. 38(5) + forum prorogatum
- Compromise (special agreements): recognising the court’s jurisdiction for that
specific case. ICJ statute art. 36(1)
States have a dispute conclude an agreement to refer it to the ICJ ICJ
- Compromissory clause: before the dispute had risen, the countries had
established a treaty on this subject where the ICJ is recognised. Specific
agreement/treaty ICJ statute art. 36(1)
States are parties to a (general) treaty treaty contains a clause accepting
the ICJ dispute arises relating to that treaty ICJ
- Optional clause declarations: recognising the court’s general jurisdiction ICJ
statute art. 36(2)
Each party issued unilateral declaration dispute arises the two
declarations match for that dispute ICJ
- Forum prorogatum: State has not recognised jurisdiction but show signs that
they will accept the jurisdiction. rules of court art. 38(5)
State has not consented to ICJ State appears before the court anyway
Don’t mix and match the ways of recognising the ICJ’s jurisdiction!
Advisory opinions
- Legal basis for ICJ’s advisory jurisdiction? art. 65(1) ICJ Statute
Overview Literature:
Henriksen, Chapter 12
Cases:
- ICJ, Legality of Nuclear Weapons Advisory Opinion
- ICJ, Wall, Advisory Opinion
Other materials:
- UN Charter and ICJ Statute;
- Knowledge clips class 6;
- The Guardian News Article: “Vanuatu to seek international court opinion on
climate change rights”
Learning objectives: At the end of this class, students:
- Can name different means of dispute settlement;
- Can understand how the requirement of state consent is manifested in
international dispute settlement
- Can distinguish the ICJ from other courts on the basis of jurisdiction, parties
before the court and subject matter;
- Can name and recognise the four ways in which jurisdiction of the ICJ can be
accepted by parties to a dispute;
- Are able to explain the difference between jurisdiction in contentious
proceedings and advisory opinions.
- Understand the different competences of the UNSC and the UNGA
, Notes
Differences between contentious jurisdiction and advisory jurisdiction
Contentious
- Access: only States, no IO’s
- Settle disputes between States
- Judgements are binding on parties to the case
Advisory
- Only organs of UN and international organisations, no States
- Clarify legal questions, no disputes
- Advisory opinions not binding
Arbitration: solved with a court but not the ICJ. General name. Select your own
judges, ad hoc.
Difference ICJ and arbitration
- Select your own judges
- Determine what laws apply, not the general international law used
- Design the process/system
- Faster
- Tailor fit
Jurisdiction of the ICJ
States can’t be obliged to go to court because of sovereignty.
Going to court is voluntary.
Article 2 UN Charter paragraph 3: international dispute settlement should happen
in a peaceful way.
Paragraph 4: prohibition of the use of force.
ICJ only has jurisdiction if States consent to jurisdiction of the court. There are
four ways in which states can accept the ICJ’s jurisdiction.
ICJ rules, art. 38(5) + forum prorogatum
- Compromise (special agreements): recognising the court’s jurisdiction for that
specific case. ICJ statute art. 36(1)
States have a dispute conclude an agreement to refer it to the ICJ ICJ
- Compromissory clause: before the dispute had risen, the countries had
established a treaty on this subject where the ICJ is recognised. Specific
agreement/treaty ICJ statute art. 36(1)
States are parties to a (general) treaty treaty contains a clause accepting
the ICJ dispute arises relating to that treaty ICJ
- Optional clause declarations: recognising the court’s general jurisdiction ICJ
statute art. 36(2)
Each party issued unilateral declaration dispute arises the two
declarations match for that dispute ICJ
- Forum prorogatum: State has not recognised jurisdiction but show signs that
they will accept the jurisdiction. rules of court art. 38(5)
State has not consented to ICJ State appears before the court anyway
Don’t mix and match the ways of recognising the ICJ’s jurisdiction!
Advisory opinions
- Legal basis for ICJ’s advisory jurisdiction? art. 65(1) ICJ Statute
