This month marks the 80th anniversary of the International Court of Justice, one of the most important institutions in the modern international system.

Established in 1945 under the United Nations Charter and beginning its work in 1946, the ICJ was created after the devastation of the Second World War. Its purpose was clear: to help ensure that disputes between states could be resolved through law rather than force.

Based in The Hague, the ICJ is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. It has two main roles. First, it settles legal disputes submitted by states. These can include questions about borders, treaties, diplomatic relations, environmental obligations, genocide and the use of force. Second, it provides advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by UN bodies and specialized agencies.

The Court does not replace diplomacy. Rather, it strengthens diplomacy by clarifying the law and offering states a peaceful path to resolve conflict. Over the past eight decades, the ICJ has helped settle territorial and maritime disputes, interpret major treaties, and affirm legal principles that guide international relations.

Its advisory opinions have also shaped global understanding of urgent issues, including nuclear weapons, decolonization, occupation, climate obligations and the responsibilities of states under international law.

At a time of rising geopolitical tension, the ICJ matters more than ever. When powerful states act outside the rules, smaller states and vulnerable populations are often left with few options. International law provides one of the few tools that can help balance power with accountability.

For world federalists, the ICJ represents an essential step toward a world governed by law, not war. Its existence reflects the belief that peace requires institutions capable of resolving disputes fairly, openly and peacefully.

Eighty years later, the Court’s mission remains unfinished, but indispensable. Strengthening the ICJ, respecting its decisions and expanding access to international justice are all necessary if the world is to move closer to lasting peace.

The anniversary is therefore not only a moment to look back. It is a reminder of what must still be built: a stronger international legal order for all.