On 13 July 2023, the International Court of Justice delivered its Judgment on the merits of the case concerning Question of the Delimitation of the Continental Shelf between Nicaragua and Colombia beyond 200 nautical miles from the Nicaraguan Coast (Nicaragua v. Colombia).

On 4 July 2023, Canada, the Kingdom of Sweden, Ukraine and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland jointly instituted proceedings against the Islamic Republic of Iran concerning a dispute under the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Civil Aviation.

The Registry of the Court published a note for States and international organizations on the procedure followed by the Court in advisory proceedings.

On 27 June 2023, the Islamic Republic of Iran filed an application instituting proceedings against Canada concerning alleged violations of its immunities.

The International Court of Justice has authorized the European Union, at its request, to participate in the advisory proceedings on the Obligations of States in respect of Climate Change.

The International Court of Justice has authorized the Commission of Small Island States on Climate Change and International Law, at its request, to participate in the advisory proceedings on the Obligations of States in respect of Climate Change.

On 20 June 2023, the Court held a public sitting for the purpose of enabling HE Mr Abdul G. Koroma to make the solemn declarations provided for in Article 20 of the Statute of the Court as judge ad hoc chosen by Azerbaijan in the cases concerning Application of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Armenia v. Azerbaijan) and Application of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Azerbaijan v. Armenia).

The public hearings on the merits in the case concerning Application of the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism and of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Ukraine v. Russian Federation), which opened on 6 June 2023, concluded on 14 June 2023. The Court will now begin its deliberation.

The International Court of Justice has authorized the International Union for Conservation of Nature, at its request, to participate in the advisory proceedings on the Obligations of States in respect of Climate Change.

On 8 June 2023, Canada and the Kingdom of the Netherlands filed a joint application instituting proceedings against the Syrian Arab Republic concerning alleged violations of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and requested the Court to indicate provisional measures.

By an Order dated 5 June 2023, the Court decided on the admissibility of the declarations of intervention filed by 33 States in the case concerning Allegations of Genocide under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Ukraine v. Russian Federation).

On 5 June 2023, a delegation of Chief Justices and judges from ten African countries paid a visit to the International Court of Justice. The delegation met with HE Judge Joan E. Donoghue, President of the Court, HE Judge Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf, HE Judge Xue Hanqin, HE Judge Dalveer Bhandari, HE Judge Georg Nolte, HE Judge Hilary Charlesworth, HE Judge Leonardo Nemer Caldeira Brant and HE Mr Jean-Pelé Fomété, the Court’s Deputy-Registrar. Topics broached during the meeting included the Court’s contentious cases and advisory proceedings, with a focus on Africa.

By an Order dated 30 May 2023, the President of the Court extended to 12 January 2024 and to 12 August 2025, respectively, the time-limits for the filing of the Memorial of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Counter-Memorial of the Italian Republic in the case concerning Questions of jurisdictional immunities of the State and measures of constraint against State-owned property (Germany v. Italy).

On 23 May 2023, a ceremony was held to commemorate HE Judge Antônio Cançado Trindade. The event, organized by the Court together with The Hague Academy of International Law, consisted of two parts: a series of speeches celebrating the legacy of Judge Cançado Trindade, followed by a panel discussion on the theme of “Antônio Cançado Trindade and the humanization of international law: his visionary work”.

It is with great sadness that the International Court of Justice announces the passing of HE Mr Thomas Buergenthal, a former member of the Court from 2000 to 2010, on Monday 29 May 2023 in the United States of America.

On 24 May 2023, HE Mr Mario Búcaro Flores, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Guatemala, accompanied by a high-level delegation, paid a visit to the International Court of Justice at its seat, the Peace Palace, in The Hague. Mr Flores and his delegation met with HE Mr Philippe Gautier, Registrar of the Court, and members of its Registry. During the discussion the Minister expressed his support for the work of the Court and underlined Guatemala’s commitment to the peaceful settlement of international disputes.

On 15 May 2023, referring to Article 76 of the Rules of Court, the Republic of Armenia submitted a request for the Court to modify its Order indicating provisional measures of 22 February 2023 in the case concerning Application of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Armenia v. Azerbaijan).

By an Order dated 12 May 2023, the Court extended to 24 August 2023 the time-limit for the filing of the Counter-Memorial of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar in the case concerning Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (The Gambia v. Myanmar).

By an Order dated 25 April 2023, the President of the Court has fixed 21 August 2023 as the time-limit within which the Republic of Azerbaijan may present a written statement of its observations and submissions on the preliminary objections raised by the Republic of Armenia in the case concerning in the case concerning Application of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Azerbaijan v. Armenia).

By an Order dated 25 April 2023, the President of the Court has fixed 21 August 2023 as the time-limit within which the Republic of Armenia may present a written statement of its observations and submissions on the preliminary objections raised by the Republic of Azerbaijan in the case concerning in the case concerning Application of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Armenia v. Azerbaijan).  

By an Order dated 20 April 2023, the President of the Court organized the written proceedings concerning the Request for an Advisory Opinion on the Obligations of States in respect of climate change. She fixed 20 October 2023 as the time-limit within which written statements on the questions may be presented to the Court, and 22 January 2024 as the time-limit within which States and organizations having presented written statements may submit written comments on the written statements made by other States or organizations. 

On 17 April 2023, the Court received a request for an advisory opinion on “the obligations of States in respect of climate change” from the Secretary-General of the United Nations, pursuant to the adoption of resolution A/RES/77/276 by the General Assembly on 29 March 2023. 

The International Court of Justice announces the publication of its Annuaire-Yearbook 2020-2021.  This volume, the seventy-fifth edition in the series, covers the period from 1 August 2020 to 31 July 2021. Produced in a bilingual format, it provides information on the judicial activities, organization and jurisdiction of the Court, together with the procedure that it follows.

On 14 April 2023, H.E. Mr. Bankole Adeoye, African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, paid a visit to the International Court of Justice at its seat, the Peace Palace, in The Hague. Mr. Adeoye, accompanied by a delegation, met with H.E. Judge Joan E. Donoghue, President of the Court, H.E. Mr. Jean-Pelé Fomété, the Court’s Deputy-Registrar, and members of its Registry. Topics discussed included the African Union’s participation in advisory proceedings and the role the Union can play in cases before the Court involving African States.