On December 13, 1920, the world community decided to form a world court at The Hague.
Following the establishment of the United Nations, this court gained more tasks and was changed to the International Court of Justice.
Its jurisdiction is limited to disputes between states willing to accept its authority on matters of international law. Its decisions are binding, but it has no enforcement power; appeals must be made to the UN Security Council. Its 15-member body of judges, each of whom serves a nine-year term, is elected by countries party to the court’s founding statute. No two judges may come from the same country.
Among the disputes that have been referred to this court are the fishing dispute between Britain and Norway, Iranian oil nationalization by Dr. Mosaddeq and Britain’s claims, African countries’ disputes and the Serbia-Yugoslavia issues.