Statute of the Court

The Statute of the International Court of Justice is annexed to the Charter of the United Nations, of
which it forms an integral part. The main object of the Statute is to organie the composition and the
functioning of the Court.
The Statute can be amended onl! in the same wa! as the Charter, i.e., b! a two"thirds majorit! #ote in
the $eneral %ssembl! and ratification b! two"thirds of the States &%rt '().
Should the ICJ consider it desirable for its Statute to be amended, it must submit a proposal to this
effect to the $eneral %ssembl! b! means of a written communication addressed to the Secretar!"
$eneral of the United Nations &%rt *+). ,owe#er, there has hitherto been no amendment of the Statute
of the Court.
ST%TUT-
./ T,-
INT-0N%TI.N%1 C.U0T ./ JUSTIC-
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Chapter I: Organization of the Court (Articles 2 !!"
Chapter II: Co#petence of the Court (Articles !$ !%"
Chapter III: &roce'ure (Articles !( )$"
Chapter I*: A'+isor, Opinions (Articles )- )%"
Chapter *: A#en'#ent (Articles )( . /0"
Article 1
The International Court of Justice established b! the Charter of the United Nations
as the principal judicial organ of the United Nations shall be constituted and shall
function in accordance with the pro#isions of the present Statute.
C2A&TE3 I O34ANI5ATION OF T2E CO63T
Article 2
The Court shall be composed of a bod! of independent judges, elected regardless
of their nationalit! from among persons of high moral character, who possess the
2ualifications re2uired in their respecti#e countries for appointment to the highest
judicial offices, or are jurisconsults of recognied competence in international law.
Article !
3. The Court shall consist of fifteen members, no two of whom ma! be nationals
of the same state.
4. % person who for the purposes of membership in the Court could be regarded
as a national of more than one state shall be deemed to be a national of the one
in which he ordinaril! exercises ci#il and political rights.
Article $
3. The members of the Court shall be elected b! the $eneral %ssembl! and b! the
Securit! Council from a list of persons nominated b! the national groups in the
5ermanent Court of %rbitration, in accordance with the following pro#isions.
4. In the case of 6embers of the United Nations not represented in the
5ermanent Court of %rbitration, candidates shall be nominated b! national groups
appointed for this purpose b! their go#ernments under the same conditions as
those prescribed for members of the 5ermanent Court of %rbitration b! %rticle 77
of the Con#ention of The ,ague of 3(+* for the pacific settlement of international
disputes.
8. The conditions under which a state which is a part! to the present Statute but
is not a 6ember of the United Nations ma! participate in electing the members of
the Court shall, in the absence of a special agreement, be laid down b! the
$eneral %ssembl! upon recommendation of the Securit! Council.
Article -
3. %t least three months before the date of the election, the Secretar!"$eneral of
the United Nations shall address a written re2uest to the members of the
5ermanent Court of %rbitration belonging to the states which are parties to the
present Statute, and to the members of the national groups appointed under
%rticle 7, paragraph 4, in#iting them to underta9e, within a gi#en time, b!
national groups, the nomination of persons in a position to accept the duties of a
member of the Court.
4. No group ma! nominate more than four persons, not more than two of whom
shall be of their own nationalit!. In no case ma! the number of candidates
nominated b! a group be more than double the number of seats to be filled.
Article )
:efore ma9ing these nominations, each national group is recommended to consult
its highest court of justice, its legal faculties and schools of law, and its national
academies and national sections of international academies de#oted to the stud!
of law.
Article /
3. The Secretar!"$eneral shall prepare a list in alphabetical order of all the
persons thus nominated. Sa#e as pro#ided in %rticle 34, paragraph 4, these shall
be the onl! persons eligible.
4. The Secretar!"$eneral shall submit this list to the $eneral %ssembl! and to the
Securit! Council.
Article %
The $eneral %ssembl! and the Securit! Council shall proceed independentl! of
one another to elect the members of the Court.
Article (
%t e#er! election, the electors shall bear in mind not onl! that the persons to be
elected should indi#iduall! possess the 2ualifications re2uired, but also that in the
bod! as a whole the representation of the main forms of ci#iliation and of the
principal legal s!stems of the world should be assured.
Article 10
3. Those candidates who obtain an absolute majorit! of #otes in the $eneral
%ssembl! and in the Securit! Council shall be considered as elected.
4. %n! #ote of the Securit! Council, whether for the election of judges or for the
appointment of members of the conference en#isaged in %rticle 34, shall be ta9en
without an! distinction between permanent and non"permanent members of the
Securit! Council.
8. In the e#ent of more than one national of the same state obtaining an absolute
majorit! of the #otes both of the $eneral %ssembl! and of the Securit! Council,
the eldest of these onl! shall be considered as elected.
Article 11
If, after the first meeting held for the purpose of the election, one or more seats
remain to be filled, a second and, if necessar!, a third meeting shall ta9e place.
Article 12
3. If, after the third meeting, one or more seats still remain unfilled, a joint
conference consisting of six members, three appointed b! the $eneral %ssembl!
and three b! the Securit! Council, ma! be formed at an! time at the re2uest of
either the $eneral %ssembl! or the Securit! Council, for the purpose of choosing
b! the #ote of an absolute majorit! one name for each seat still #acant, to submit
to the $eneral %ssembl! and the Securit! Council for their respecti#e acceptance.
4. If the joint conference is unanimousl! agreed upon an! person who fulfills the
re2uired conditions, he ma! be included in its list, e#en though he was not
included in the list of nominations referred to in %rticle *.
8. If the joint conference is satisfied that it will not be successful in procuring an
election, those members of the Court who ha#e alread! been elected shall, within
a period to be fixed b! the Securit! Council, proceed to fill the #acant seats b!
selection from among those candidates who ha#e obtained #otes either in the
$eneral %ssembl! or in the Securit! Council.
7. In the e#ent of an e2ualit! of #otes among the judges, the eldest judge shall
ha#e a casting #ote.
Article 1!
3. The members of the Court shall be elected for nine !ears and ma! be re"
elected; pro#ided, howe#er, that of the judges elected at the first election, the
terms of fi#e judges shall expire at the end of three !ears and the terms of fi#e
more judges shall expire at the end of six !ears.
4. The judges whose terms are to expire at the end of the abo#e"mentioned initial
periods of three and six !ears shall be chosen b! lot to be drawn b! the
Secretar!"$eneral immediatel! after the first election has been completed.
8. The members of the Court shall continue to discharge their duties until their
places ha#e been filled. Though replaced, the! shall finish an! cases which the!
ma! ha#e begun.
7. In the case of the resignation of a member of the Court, the resignation shall
be addressed to the 5resident of the Court for transmission to the Secretar!"
$eneral. This last notification ma9es the place #acant.
Article 1$
<acancies shall be filled b! the same method as that laid down for the first
election, subject to the following pro#ision= the Secretar!"$eneral shall, within
one month of the occurrence of the #acanc!, proceed to issue the in#itations
pro#ided for in %rticle >, and the date of the election shall be fixed b! the Securit!
Council.
Article 1-
% member of the Court elected to replace a member whose term of office has not
expired shall hold office for the remainder of his predecessor?s term.
Article 1)
3. No member of the Court ma! exercise an! political or administrati#e function,
or engage in an! other occupation of a professional nature.
4. %n! doubt on this point shall be settled b! the decision of the Court.
Article 1/
3. No member of the Court ma! act as agent, counsel, or ad#ocate in an! case.
4. No member ma! participate in the decision of an! case in which he has
pre#iousl! ta9en part as agent, counsel, or ad#ocate for one of the parties, or as
a member of a national or international court, or of a commission of en2uir!, or in
an! other capacit!.
8. %n! doubt on this point shall be settled b! the decision of the Court.
Article 1%
3. No member of the Court can be dismissed unless, in the unanimous opinion of
the other members, he has ceased to fulfill the re2uired conditions.
4. /ormal notification thereof shall be made to the Secretar!"$eneral b! the
0egistrar.
8. This notification ma9es the place #acant.
Article 1(
The members of the Court, when engaged on the business of the Court, shall
enjo! diplomatic pri#ileges and immunities.
Article 20
-#er! member of the Court shall, before ta9ing up his duties, ma9e a solemn
declaration in open court that he will exercise his powers impartiall! and
conscientiousl!.
Article 21
3. The Court shall elect its 5resident and <ice"5resident for three !ears; the! ma!
be re"elected.
4. The Court shall appoint its 0egistrar and ma! pro#ide for the appointment of
such other officers as ma! be necessar!.
Article 22
3. The seat of the Court shall be established at The ,ague. This, howe#er, shall
not pre#ent the Court from sitting and exercising its functions elsewhere
whene#er the Court considers it desirable.
4. The 5resident and the 0egistrar shall reside at the seat of the Court.
Article 2!
3. The Court shall remain permanentl! in session, except during the judicial
#acations, the dates and duration of which shall be fixed b! the Court.
4. 6embers of the Court are entitled to periodic lea#e, the dates and duration of
which shall be fixed b! the Court, ha#ing in mind the distance between The ,ague
and the home of each judge.
8. 6embers of the Court shall be bound, unless the! are on lea#e or pre#ented
from attending b! illness or other serious reasons dul! explained to the 5resident,
to hold themsel#es permanentl! at the disposal of the Court.
Article 2$
3. If, for some special reason, a member of the Court considers that he should
not ta9e part in the decision of a particular case, he shall so inform the 5resident.
4. If the 5resident considers that for some special reason one of the members of
the Court should not sit in a particular case, he shall gi#e him notice accordingl!.
8. If in an! such case the member of the Court and the 5resident disagree, the
matter shall be settled b! the decision of the Court.
Article 2-
3. The full Court shall sit except when it is expressl! pro#ided otherwise in the
present Statute.
4. Subject to the condition that the number of judges a#ailable to constitute the
Court is not thereb! reduced below ele#en, the 0ules of the Court ma! pro#ide for
allowing one or more judges, according to circumstances and in rotation, to be
dispensed from sitting.
8. % 2uorum of nine judges shall suffice to constitute the Court.
Article 2)
3. The Court ma! from time to time form one or more chambers, composed of
three or more judges as the Court ma! determine, for dealing with particular
categories of cases; for example, labour cases and cases relating to transit and
communications.
4. The Court ma! at an! time form a chamber for dealing with a particular case.
The number of judges to constitute such a chamber shall be determined b! the
Court with the appro#al of the parties.
8. Cases shall be heard and determined b! the chambers pro#ided for in this
article if the parties so re2uest.
Article 2/
% judgment gi#en b! an! of the chambers pro#ided for in %rticles 4' and 4( shall
be considered as rendered b! the Court.
Article 2%
The chambers pro#ided for in %rticles 4' and 4( ma!, with the consent of the
parties, sit and exercise their functions elsewhere than at The ,ague.
Article 2(
@ith a #iew to the speed! dispatch of business, the Court shall form annuall! a
chamber composed of fi#e judges which, at the re2uest of the parties, ma! hear
and determine cases b! summar! procedure. In addition, two judges shall be
selected for the purpose of replacing judges who find it impossible to sit.
Article !0
3. The Court shall frame rules for carr!ing out its functions. In particular, it shall
la! down rules of procedure.
4. The 0ules of the Court ma! pro#ide for assessors to sit with the Court or with
an! of its chambers, without the right to #ote.
Article !1
3. Judges of the nationalit! of each of the parties shall retain their right to sit in
the case before the Court.
4. If the Court includes upon the :ench a judge of the nationalit! of one of the
parties, an! other part! ma! choose a person to sit as judge. Such person shall
be chosen preferabl! from among those persons who ha#e been nominated as
candidates as pro#ided in %rticles 7 and >.
8. If the Court includes upon the :ench no judge of the nationalit! of the parties,
each of these parties ma! proceed to choose a judge as pro#ided in paragraph 4
of this %rticle.
7. The pro#isions of this %rticle shall appl! to the case of %rticles 4' and 4(. In
such cases, the 5resident shall re2uest one or, if necessar!, two of the members
of the Court forming the chamber to gi#e place to the members of the Court of
the nationalit! of the parties concerned, and, failing such, or if the! are unable to
be present, to the judges speciall! chosen b! the parties.
>. Should there be se#eral parties in the same interest, the! shall, for the
purpose of the preceding pro#isions, be rec9oned as one part! onl!. %n! doubt
upon this point shall be settled b! the decision of the Court.
'. Judges chosen as laid down in paragraphs 4, 8, and 7 of this %rticle shall fulfill
the conditions re2uired b! %rticles 4, 3* &paragraph 4), 4+, and 47 of the present
Statute. The! shall ta9e part in the decision on terms of complete e2ualit! with
their colleagues.
Article !2
3. -ach member of the Court shall recei#e an annual salar!.
4. The 5resident shall recei#e a special annual allowance.
8. The <ice"5resident shall recei#e a special allowance for e#er! da! on which he
acts as 5resident.
7. The judges chosen under %rticle 83, other than members of the Court, shall
recei#e compensation for each da! on which the! exercise their functions.
>. These salaries, allowances, and compensation shall be fixed b! the $eneral
%ssembl!. The! ma! not be decreased during the term of office.
'. The salar! of the 0egistrar shall be fixed b! the $eneral %ssembl! on the
proposal of the Court.
*. 0egulations made b! the $eneral %ssembl! shall fix the conditions under which
retirement pensions ma! be gi#en to members of the Court and to the 0egistrar,
and the conditions under which members of the Court and the 0egistrar shall
ha#e their tra#elling expenses refunded.
A. The abo#e salaries, allowances, and compensation shall be free of all taxation.
Article !!
The expenses of the Court shall be borne b! the United Nations in such a manner
as shall be decided b! the $eneral %ssembl!.
C2A&TE3 II CO7&ETENCE OF T2E CO63T
Article !$
3. .nl! states ma! be parties in cases before the Court.
4. The Court, subject to and in conformit! with its 0ules, ma! re2uest of public
international organiations information rele#ant to cases before it, and shall
recei#e such information presented b! such organiations on their own initiati#e.
8. @hene#er the construction of the constituent instrument of a public
international organiation or of an international con#ention adopted thereunder is
in 2uestion in a case before the Court, the 0egistrar shall so notif! the public
international organiation concerned and shall communicate to it copies of all the
written proceedings.
Article !-
3. The Court shall be open to the states parties to the present Statute.
4. The conditions under which the Court shall be open to other states shall,
subject to the special pro#isions contained in treaties in force, be laid down b! the
Securit! Council, but in no case shall such conditions place the parties in a
position of ine2ualit! before the Court.
8. @hen a state which is not a 6ember of the United Nations is a part! to a case,
the Court shall fix the amount which that part! is to contribute towards the
expenses of the Court. This pro#ision shall not appl! if such state is bearing a
share of the expenses of the Court
Article !)
3. The jurisdiction of the Court comprises all cases which the parties refer to it
and all matters speciall! pro#ided for in the Charter of the United Nations or in
treaties and con#entions in force.
4. The states parties to the present Statute ma! at an! time declare that the!
recognie as compulsor! ipso facto and without special agreement, in relation to
an! other state accepting the same obligation, the jurisdiction of the Court in all
legal disputes concerning=
a. the interpretation of a treat!;
b. an! 2uestion of international law;
c. the existence of an! fact which, if established, would constitute a
breach of an international obligation;
d. the nature or extent of the reparation to be made for the breach of an
international obligation.
8. The declarations referred to abo#e ma! be made unconditionall! or on
condition of reciprocit! on the part of se#eral or certain states, or for a certain
time.
7. Such declarations shall be deposited with the Secretar!"$eneral of the United
Nations, who shall transmit copies thereof to the parties to the Statute and to the
0egistrar of the Court.
>. Beclarations made under %rticle 8' of the Statute of the 5ermanent Court of
International Justice and which are still in force shall be deemed, as between the
parties to the present Statute, to be acceptances of the compulsor! jurisdiction of
the International Court of Justice for the period which the! still ha#e to run and in
accordance with their terms.
'. In the e#ent of a dispute as to whether the Court has jurisdiction, the matter
shall be settled b! the decision of the Court.
Article !/
@hene#er a treat! or con#ention in force pro#ides for reference of a matter to a
tribunal to ha#e been instituted b! the 1eague of Nations, or to the 5ermanent
Court of International Justice, the matter shall, as between the parties to the
present Statute, be referred to the International Court of Justice.
Article !%
3. The Court, whose function is to decide in accordance with international law
such disputes as are submitted to it, shall appl!=
a. international con#entions, whether general or particular, establishing
rules expressl! recognied b! the contesting states;
b. international custom, as e#idence of a general practice accepted as
law;
c. the general principles of law recognied b! ci#ilied nations;
d. subject to the pro#isions of %rticle >(, judicial decisions and the
teachings of the most highl! 2ualified publicists of the #arious nations,
as subsidiar! means for the determination of rules of law.
4. This pro#ision shall not prejudice the power of the Court to decide a case ex
aequo et bono, if the parties agree thereto.
C2A&TE3 III &3OCE863E
Article !(
3. The official languages of the Court shall be /rench and -nglish. If the parties
agree that the case shall be conducted in /rench, the judgment shall be deli#ered
in /rench. If the parties agree that the case shall be conducted in -nglish, the
judgment shall be deli#ered in -nglish.
4. In the absence of an agreement as to which language shall be emplo!ed, each
part! ma!, in the pleadings, use the language which it prefers; the decision of the
Court shall be gi#en in /rench and -nglish. In this case the Court shall at the
same time determine which of the two texts shall be considered as authoritati#e.
8. The Court shall, at the re2uest of an! part!, authorie a language other than
/rench or -nglish to be used b! that part!.
Article $0
3. Cases are brought before the Court, as the case ma! be, either b! the
notification of the special agreement or b! a written application addressed to the
0egistrar. In either case the subject of the dispute and the parties shall be
indicated.
4. The 0egistrar shall forthwith communicate the application to all concerned.
8. ,e shall also notif! the 6embers of the United Nations through the Secretar!"
$eneral, and also an! other states entitled to appear before the Court.
Article $1
3. The Court shall ha#e the power to indicate, if it considers that circumstances so
re2uire, an! pro#isional measures which ought to be ta9en to preser#e the
respecti#e rights of either part!.
4. 5ending the final decision, notice of the measures suggested shall forthwith be
gi#en to the parties and to the Securit! Council.
Article $2
3. The parties shall be represented b! agents.
4. The! ma! ha#e the assistance of counsel or ad#ocates before the Court.
8. The agents, counsel, and ad#ocates of parties before the Court shall enjo! the
pri#ileges and immunities necessar! to the independent exercise of their duties.
Article $!
3. The procedure shall consist of two parts= written and oral.
4. The written proceedings shall consist of the communication to the Court and to
the parties of memorials, counter"memorials and, if necessar!, replies; also all
papers and documents in support.
8. These communications shall be made through the 0egistrar, in the order and
within the time fixed b! the Court.
7. % certified cop! of e#er! document produced b! one part! shall be
communicated to the other part!.
>. The oral proceedings shall consist of the hearing b! the Court of witnesses,
experts, agents, counsel, and ad#ocates.
Article $$
3. /or the ser#ice of all notices upon persons other than the agents, counsel, and
ad#ocates, the Court shall appl! direct to the go#ernment of the state upon
whose territor! the notice has to be ser#ed.
4. The same pro#ision shall appl! whene#er steps are to be ta9en to procure
e#idence on the spot.
Article $-
The hearing shall be under the control of the 5resident or, if he is unable to
preside, of the <ice"5resident; if neither is able to preside, the senior judge
present shall preside.
Article $)
The hearing in Court shall be public, unless the Court shall decide otherwise, or
unless the parties demand that the public be not admitted .
Article $/
3. 6inutes shall be made at each hearing and signed b! the 0egistrar and the
5resident.
4. These minutes alone shall be authentic.
Article $%
The Court shall ma9e orders for the conduct of the case, shall decide the form
and time in which each part! must conclude its arguments, and ma9e all
arrangements connected with the ta9ing of e#idence.
Article $(
The Court ma!, e#en before the hearing begins, call upon the agents to produce
an! document or to suppl! an! explanations. /ormal note shall be ta9en of an!
refusal.
Article -0
The Court ma!, at an! time, entrust an! indi#idual, bod!, bureau, commission, or
other organiation that it ma! select, with the tas9 of carr!ing out an en2uir! or
gi#ing an expert opinion.
Article -1
Buring the hearing an! rele#ant 2uestions are to be put to the witnesses and
experts under the conditions laid down b! the Court in the rules of procedure
referred to in %rticle 8+.
Article -2
%fter the Court has recei#ed the proofs and e#idence within the time specified for
the purpose, it ma! refuse to accept an! further oral or written e#idence that one
part! ma! desire to present unless the other side consents.
Article -!
3. @hene#er one of the parties does not appear before the Court, or fails to
defend its case, the other part! ma! call upon the Court to decide in fa#our of its
claim.
4. The Court must, before doing so, satisf! itself, not onl! that it has jurisdiction
in accordance with %rticles 8' and 8*, but also that the claim is well founded in
fact and law.
Article -$
3. @hen, subject to the control of the Court, the agents, counsel, and ad#ocates
ha#e completed their presentation of the case, the 5resident shall declare the
hearing closed.
4. The Court shall withdraw to consider the judgment.
8. The deliberations of the Court shall ta9e place in pri#ate and remain secret.
Article --
3. %ll 2uestions shall be decided b! a majorit! of the judges present.
4. In the e#ent of an e2ualit! of #otes, the 5resident or the judge who acts in his
place shall ha#e a casting #ote.
Article -)
3. The judgment shall state the reasons on which it is based.
4. It shall contain the names of the judges who ha#e ta9en part in the decision.
Article -/
If the judgment does not represent in whole or in part the unanimous opinion of
the judges, an! judge shall be entitled to deli#er a separate opinion.
Article -%
The judgment shall be signed b! the 5resident and b! the 0egistrar. It shall be
read in open court, due notice ha#ing been gi#en to the agents.
Article -(
The decision of the Court has no binding force except between the parties and in
respect of that particular case.
Article )0
The judgment is final and without appeal. In the e#ent of dispute as to the
meaning or scope of the judgment, the Court shall construe it upon the re2uest of
an! part!.
Article )1
3. %n application for re#ision of a judgment ma! be made onl! when it is based
upon the disco#er! of some fact of such a nature as to be a decisi#e factor, which
fact was, when the judgment was gi#en, un9nown to the Court and also to the
part! claiming re#ision, alwa!s pro#ided that such ignorance was not due to
negligence.
4. The proceedings for re#ision shall be opened b! a judgment of the Court
expressl! recording the existence of the new fact, recogniing that it has such a
character as to la! the case open to re#ision, and declaring the application
admissible on this ground.
8. The Court ma! re2uire pre#ious compliance with the terms of the judgment
before it admits proceedings in re#ision.
7. The application for re#ision must be made at latest within six months of the
disco#er! of the new fact.
>. No application for re#ision ma! be made after the lapse of ten !ears from the
date of the judgment.
Article )2
l. Should a state consider that it has an interest of a legal nature which ma! be
affected b! the decision in the case, it ma! submit a re2uest to the Court to be
permitted to inter#ene.
4 It shall be for the Court to decide upon this re2uest.
Article )!
3. @hene#er the construction of a con#ention to which states other than those
concerned in the case are parties is in 2uestion, the 0egistrar shall notif! all such
states forthwith.
4. -#er! state so notified has the right to inter#ene in the proceedings; but if it
uses this right, the construction gi#en b! the judgment will be e2uall! binding
upon it.
Article )$
Unless otherwise decided b! the Court, each part! shall bear its own costs.
C,%5T-0 I< " %B<IS.0C .5INI.NS
Article )-
3. The Court ma! gi#e an ad#isor! opinion on an! legal 2uestion at the re2uest of
whate#er bod! ma! be authoried b! or in accordance with the Charter of the
United Nations to ma9e such a re2uest.
4. Duestions upon which the ad#isor! opinion of the Court is as9ed shall be laid
before the Court b! means of a written re2uest containing an exact statement of
the 2uestion upon which an opinion is re2uired, and accompanied b! all
documents li9el! to throw light upon the 2uestion.
Article ))
3. The 0egistrar shall forthwith gi#e notice of the re2uest for an ad#isor! opinion
to all states entitled to appear before the Court.
4. The 0egistrar shall also, b! means of a special and direct communication,
notif! an! state entitled to appear before the Court or international organiation
considered b! the Court, or, should it not be sitting, b! the 5resident, as li9el! to
be able to furnish information on the 2uestion, that the Court will be prepared to
recei#e, within a time"limit to be fixed b! the 5resident, written statements, or to
hear, at a public sitting to be held for the purpose, oral statements relating to the
2uestion.
8. Should an! such state entitled to appear before the Court ha#e failed to
recei#e the special communication referred to in paragraph 4 of this %rticle, such
state ma! express a desire to submit a written statement or to be heard; and the
Court will decide.
7. States and organiations ha#ing presented written or oral statements or both
shall be permitted to comment on the statements made b! other states or
organiations in the form, to the extent, and within the time"limits which the
Court, or, should it not be sitting, the 5resident, shall decide in each particular
case. %ccordingl!, the 0egistrar shall in due time communicate an! such written
statements to states and organiations ha#ing submitted similar statements.
Article )/
The Court shall deli#er its ad#isor! opinions in open court, notice ha#ing been
gi#en to the Secretar!"$eneral and to the representati#es of 6embers of the
United Nations, of other states and of international organiations immediatel!
concerned.
Article )%
In the exercise of its ad#isor! functions the Court shall further be guided b! the
pro#isions of the present Statute which appl! in contentious cases to the extent
to which it recognies them to be applicable.
C2A&TE3 * A7EN87ENT
Article )(
%mendments to the present Statute shall be effected b! the same procedure as is
pro#ided b! the Charter of the United Nations for amendments to that Charter,
subject howe#er to an! pro#isions which the $eneral %ssembl! upon
recommendation of the Securit! Council ma! adopt concerning the participation
of states which are parties to the present Statute but are not 6embers of the
United Nations.
Article /0
The Court shall ha#e power to propose such amendments to the present Statute
as it ma! deem necessar!, through written communications to the Secretar!"
$eneral, for consideration in conformit! with the pro#isions of %rticle '(.