In accordance with Article 96, paragraph 1, of the Charter of the United Nations “[t]he General Assembly or the Security Council may request the International Court of Justice to give an advisory opinion on any legal question”.
Article 96, paragraph 2, of the Charter provides that “[o]ther organs of the United Nations and specialized agencies, which may at any time be so authorized by the General Assembly, may also request advisory opinions of the Court on legal questions arising within the scope of their activities”.
UN Organs
General Assembly
The General Assembly has requested advisory opinions of the Court in the following case(s):
Conditions of Admission of a State to Membership in the United Nations (Article 4 of the Charter)
Reparation for Injuries Suffered in the Service of the United Nations
Interpretation of Peace Treaties with Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania
Competence of the General Assembly for the Admission of a State to the United Nations
International Status of South West Africa
Reservations to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide
Effect of Awards of Compensation Made by the United Nations Administrative Tribunal
Voting Procedure on Questions relating to Reports and Petitions concerning the Territory of South West Africa
Admissibility of Hearings of Petitioners by the Committee on South West Africa
Certain Expenses of the United Nations (Article 17, paragraph 2, of the Charter)
Western Sahara
Applicability of the Obligation to Arbitrate under Section 21 of the United Nations Headquarters Agreement of 26 June 1947
Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons
Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory
Accordance with international law of the unilateral declaration of independence in respect of Kosovo
Legal consequences of the separation of the Chagos Archipelago from Mauritius in 1965
Security Council
The Security Council has requested advisory opinions of the Court in the following case(s):
Legal Consequences for States of the Continued Presence of South Africa in Namibia (South West Africa) notwithstanding Security Council Resolution 276 (1970)
Economic and Social Council
The Economic and Social Council has requested advisory opinions of the Court in the following case(s):
Applicability of Article VI, Section 22, of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations
Difference Relating to Immunity from Legal Process of a Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights
Trusteeship Council
Interim Committee of the General Assembly
Specialized Agencies
International Labour Organization (ILO)
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization has requested advisory opinions of the Court in the following case(s):
Judgments of the Administrative Tribunal of the ILO upon Complaints Made against Unesco
World Health Organization (WHO)
The World Health Organization has requested advisory opinions of the Court in the following case(s):
Interpretation of the Agreement of 25 March 1951 between the WHO and Egypt
Legality of the Use by a State of Nuclear Weapons in Armed Conflict
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)
International Finance Corporation (IFC)
International Development Association (IDA)
International Monetary Fund (IMF)
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
The International Fund for Agricultural Development has requested advisory opinions of the Court in the following case(s):
Judgment No.2867 of the Administrative Tribunal of the International Labour Organization upon a Complaint Filed against the International Fund for Agricultural Development (Request for Advisory Opinion)
World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
International Maritime Organization (IMO)
The International Maritime Organization has requested advisory opinions of the Court in the following case(s):