Admissibility of Hearings of Petitioners by the Committee on South West Africa

OVERVIEW OF THE CASE

In this Advisory Opinion of 1 June 1956, the Court considered that it would be in accordance with its Advisory Opinion of 1950 on the international status of South West Africa for the Committee on South West Africa, established by the General Assembly, to grant oral hearings to petitioners on matters relating to the Territory of South West Africa if such a course was necessary for the maintenance of effective international supervision of the mandated Territory. The General Assembly was legally qualified to carry out an effective and adequate supervision of the administration of the mandated Territory. Under the League of Nations, the Council would have been competent to authorize such hearings. Although the degree of supervision to be exercised by the Assembly should not exceed that which applied under the Mandates System, the granting of hearings would not involve such an excess in the degree of supervision. Under the circumstances then existing, the hearing of petitioners by the Committee on South West Africa might be in the interest of the proper working of the Mandates System.


This overview is provided for information only and in no way involves the responsibility of the Court.

Request for Advisory Opinion

19 December 1955
Request for Advisory Opinion (including the dossier of documents transmitted to the Court pursuant to article 65, paragraph 2 of the Statute)
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Written proceedings

2 February 1956
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Oral proceedings

Verbatim record 1956 (bilingual version)
Minutes of the Public Sittings held at the Peace Palace, The Hague, on March 22nd and June 1st, 1956, the President, Mr. Hackworth, presiding
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Orders

Fixing of time-limit: Written Statements
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Advisory opinions


Summaries of Judgments and Orders

Summary of the Advisory Opinion of 1 June 1956
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Press releases

23 December 1955
Admissibility of Hearings of Petitioners by the Committee on South West Africa - The General Assembly of the United Nations request an Advisory Opinion of the Court on the question
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9 March 1956
Admissibility of Hearings of Petitioners by the Committee on South West Africa - The Court postpones until March 22nd the opening of the hearings
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21 March 1956
Admissibility of Hearings of Petitioners by the Committee on South West Africa - Representatives of the Government of the United Kingdom at the public sitting which will be held on March 22nd, 1956
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22 March 1956
Admissibility of Hearings of Petitioners by the Committee on South West Africa - Hearing of March 22nd, 1956
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30 May 1956
Admissibility of Hearings of Petitioners by the Committee on South West Africa - The Court will deliver its advisory opinion on June 1st, 1956
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1 June 1956
Admissibility of Hearings of Petitioners by the Committee on South West Africa - Advisory opinion
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Correspondence

19 December 1955
Correspondence
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