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.