What is in The Hague?
The UK is engaged in supporting a range of international legal institutions based in The Hague, including:

Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)
The PCA facilitates international dispute settlement, including through arbitration, conciliation and fact-finding.

International Court of Justice (ICJ)
The ICJ is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. It decides disputes between States and gives Advisory Opinions.

International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY)
The ICTY is a UN court and conducts trials of individuals accused of war crimes during the Yugoslav wars of the 1990s.

International Criminal Court (ICC)
The ICC is the new permanent war crimes tribunal - with a global reach.

 

Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)
The PCA was set up in 1899 and now has over 100 State Parties. The PCA provides facilities for the settlement of disputes, including by arbitration, conciliation, fact-finding and the administration of mass claims. The PCA has jurisdiction in relation to disputes involving individuals, companies and States. It is housed with the International Court of Justice in the Peace Palace.

What is the UK’s relationship with the PCA?
The UK strongly supports the work of the PCA as a forum for promoting the peaceful settlement of disputes.

The current UK Members of the PCA – from whom UK arbitrators may be drawn – include Dame Rosalyn Higgins, Sir Arthur Watts, Lord Bingham and Sir Elihu Lauterpacht.

The British Embassy represents the UK at meetings of the Administrative Council of the PCA and acts as a liaison point during the conduct of cases involving the UK.

What contribution does the PCA make to international relations?
The PCA provides States and other international actors with a range of facilities to enable them to resolve disputes peacefully. Its decisions contribute to the development of international law.

 

International Court of Justice (ICJ) 
Established in 1945, the International Court of Justice is the successor to the Permanent Court of International Justice. The ICJ hears disputes submitted to it by States. It can also give Advisory Opinions at the request of certain international organisations.

What kind of cases does the ICJ hear?
The ICJ can determine any question of international law, provided the States parties to the dispute have consented. Recent ICJ cases have included disputes concerning territorial boundaries, maritime delimitation, State immunity, consular rights and the use of force.

What is the UK’s relationship with the ICJ?
The UK has accepted the ICJ’s “compulsory” jurisdiction.

The British judge, Dame Rosalyn Higgins, is the first female judge at the Court.

The British Embassy reports on developments in cases before the ICJ and acts as a liaison point during the conduct of any cases involving the UK.

What contribution does the ICJ make to international relations?
The ICJ provides a valuable means of peaceful international dispute settlement and has, through its decisions, contributed significantly to the development of international law.

 

International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY)
Established in 1993 by the UN Security Council, the ICTY has tried, to date, over 50 individuals accused of war crimes in the former Yugoslavia.

What is the UK’s relationship with ICTY?
The UK has supported the ICTY since its inception, including facilitating arrests, providing supplementary funding and providing assistance with witnesses and sentence enforcement. The UK is currently the second largest contributor to extra-budgetary programmes at the ICTY.

The British judge, Lord Bonomy, is currently a member of a Trial Chamber.

The British Embassy acts as a focal point for UK support to the ICTY in The Hague, liaising on witness and sentence enforcement issues, and reporting on developments in cases and in relation to the ICTY’s Completion Strategy.

What contribution does ICTY make to international relations?
The ICTY provides accountability for war crimes committed during the Yugoslav wars of the 1990s. ICTY judgements contribute to the development of international criminal law.