King to attend 70th anniversary of the International Court of Justice
On Wednesday 20 April His Majesty the King will attend an official ceremony at the Peace Palace in The Hague to mark the 70th anniversary of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
His Excellency Judge Ronny Abraham, the President of the ICJ, will deliver a commemorative speech. Other speakers will include His Excellency Mr Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bert Koenders. Students of the Royal Conservatoire's School for Young Talent will provide musical interludes between the speeches.
The opening session of the ICJ at the Peace Palace took place on 18 April 1946 in the presence of Princess Juliana and Prince Bernhard. The ICJ is the principal judicial organ of the UN. It is composed of 15 judges and is assisted by a Registry of approximately 100 staff. Its official languages are French and English. The ICJ is a civil court with specific powers to settle disputes between states and advise UN organs and specialised agencies. The ICJ does not try individuals or war criminals; this is the responsibility of other institutions, including the International Criminal Court (ICC) (also in The Hague).