On Friday 17 April His Majesty King Willem-Alexander will attend a special session of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at the Peace Palace in The Hague to mark its 80th anniversary.
His Excellency Judge Iwasawa Yuji, President of the Court, will deliver a commemorative address. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and Dutch foreign minister Tom Berendsen will also attend. Students of the Royal Conservatoire’s School for Young Talent will provide musical intermezzos.
The International Court of Justice held its inaugural session in the Peace Palace on 18 April 1946, in the presence of Princess Juliana and Prince Bernhard. The ICJ is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. It is composed of 15 judges and is assisted by a Registry employing around 100 staff. The official languages of the Court are French and English. The ICJ is a civilian court with a specific role: settling disputes among states and providing advisory opinions to United Nations organs.
Government Information Service, no. 89