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80th Anniversary of the Court

 

The Charter of the United Nations and the Statute of the International Court of Justice, which forms an integral part of the Charter, were signed in San Francisco on 26 June 1945 and came into force on 24 October 1945. The first Members of the Court were elected on 6 February 1946 at the first session of the General Assembly, held in London. They convened for the first time at the Peace Palace in The Hague on 3 April 1946. On 6 April 1946, the new Court elected its President, Vice‑President and Registrar. Its inaugural sitting took place on 18 April 1946.

 

Starting on 17 April 2026, the Court will celebrate the 80th anniversary of its inaugural sitting through various initiatives. Announcements related to these activities will be published on this page throughout the anniversary year.

 

 

 

Solemn sitting

A solemn sitting commemorating the Court's 80th anniversary was held on 17 April 2026 in the presence of His Majesty King Willem‑Alexander of the Netherlands, HE Mr António Guterres, Secretary‑General of the United Nations, HE Ms Annalena Baerbock, President of the United Nations General Assembly, HE Mr Tom Berendsen, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, and HE Mr Jamal Alrowaiei, Ambassador, President of the United Nations Security Council. The full programme of the solemn sitting is available here.

 

Speeches were delivered by HE Judge Iwasawa Yuji, President of the Court, and by Their Excellencies Mr Guterres, Ms Baerbock, Mr Berendsen and Mr Alrowaiei. The full texts of the speeches are available on this page.

 

 

 

Speeches

HE Judge Iwasawa Yuji

 

 

 

 

Address by His Excellency Judge Iwasawa Yuji, President of the Court

 

HE António Guterres

 

 

 

 

Address by His Excellency Mr António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations 

 

HE Ms Annalena Baerbock

 

 

 

 

Address by Her Excellency Ms Annalena Baerbock, President of the United Nations General Assembly

 

HE Mr Tom Berendsen

 

 

 

 

Address by His Excellency Mr Tom Berendsen, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands

 

HE Mr Jamal Alrowaiei

 

 

 

 

Address by His Excellency Mr Jamal Alrowaiei, President of the United Nations Security Council

 

Videos and photos of the solemn sitting

Videos

video on demand

 

 

HE Judge Iwasawa Yuji

 

 

 

 

Address by His Excellency Judge Iwasawa Yuji, President of the Court (floor sound)

 

HE Mr António Guterres

 

 

 

 

Address by His Excellency Mr António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations (floor sound)

 

HE Ms Annalena Baerbock

 

 

 

 

Address by Her Excellency Ms Baerbock, President of the United Nations General Assembly (floor sound)

 

HE Mr Tom Berendsen

 

 

 

 

Address by His Excellency Mr Tom Berendsen, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands (floor sound)

 

HE Mr Jamal Alrowaiei

 

 

 

 

Address by His Excellency Mr Jamal Al Rowaiei, President of the United Nations Security Council (floor sound)

 

Photos

Multimedia gallery

 

Publications

The International Court of Justice: 80 Years in the Service of Peace and Justice

Cover of the publication The International Court of Justice, 80 years in the Service of Peace and Justice

 

 

The Registry of the Court produced this publication to mark the 80th anniversary of the inaugural sitting of the Court. It has been produced with the general public in mind and uses clear and accessible language to describe the Court and its activities.

 

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80th Anniversary of the Court

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