Organs and agencies authorized to request advisory opinions

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

Security Council

Economic and Social Council

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)

World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

International Maritime Organization (IMO)

The International Maritime Organization has requested advisory opinions of the Court in the following case(s):

Constitution of the Maritime Safety Committee of the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization

World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)

United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)

Related Organization(s)

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

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