International Court of Justice
It is virtually impossible to look at international relations and disputes between nations around the world, or learn about United Nations history and current activities, or, indeed, study international law, without coming across one of the most prominent andnoteworthy courts on the globe: the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Located in The Hague, Netherlands, the sheer magnitude and importance of this chief judiciary organ of the UN has caused it to be occasionally called the “World Court.” The ICJ, which was founded in 1945 by the UN Charter as one of the six major bodies of the UN, has the major role of settling international legal battles between countries using international law. Within MUN, it is a council like no other, with a unique purpose, structure, and system. Far from the power dynamics of other politically-driven councils, the ICJ focuses on the fundamentals of international law and employs a traditional court arrangement, complete with judges, lawyers (referred to as advocates), and legal rulings, giving every delegate the chance to prove what is fair and just. MUN’s ICJ selects one current, ongoing and controversial legal conflict between two countries and submits this case to the advocates and judges of the Court, allowing them to make powerful claims and find legal loopholes, engage in passionate debates and intense deliberations, and come to authoritative decisions that will decide the fate of these two combating nations. If you think you have what it takes to be an advocate or judge in this court, want to learn more about international law and current legal conflicts between states, or just want to enjoy an exciting and fulfilling MUN experience, then look no further than this year’s ICJ.
Case: Turkey v. Israel: The Incident of the Freedom Flotilla
President: Mohamed Soliman
Director: Sarah El Saeed
Rapporteur: Amin Abaza
Advocates couch: Carla Gazal