Hands holding passports. That is the picture that welcomes the conference participants at the gate of the granite, sandstone and red brick Peace Palace. You can always feel some tension when you are waiting for your turn in the security checking line. You might start worrying: 'Is my name on the list? Did I leave my passport back at the hotel?'
This lovely autumn day and the slightly unsettling safety measures may have led you to forget about the history and importance of the magnificent building in which we gather: The Peace Palace. Today, this building houses the International Court of Justice and the Permanent Court of Arbitration. The setting for the WIDE Annual Conference is the main place where justice is debated and conferred within the United Nations.
The International Court of Justice is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. It was established by the United Nations Charter, signed in 1945 in San Francisco, and began work in 1946 in the Peace Palace, The Hague. The Court, which is composed of 15 judges, has a dual role: in accordance with international law, it settles legal disputes between States who have asked for arbitration, and provides advice on legal matters referred to by both authorized United Nations organs and specialized agencies.
So the next time you are in the security checking line, take a minute and think about the Hague Peace Conferences and the International Court of Justice – it has a significant place in the history of nations across the globe.
This article has been publised in Daily News 10-10-2008
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