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Advisory Opinions

How the ICJ provides legal guidance to UN organs and the impact of its non-binding but influential opinions.

What Are Advisory Opinions?

Advisory opinions are non-binding legal pronouncements issued by the ICJ at the request of authorized UN organs or specialized agencies. Unlike contentious cases, advisory proceedings do not involve disputes between named parties, and states cannot block the Court from giving an opinion. The General Assembly and Security Council can ask for opinions on any legal question, while specialized agencies are limited to questions within their scope.

Despite their non-binding character, advisory opinions carry tremendous authority. They represent the considered legal judgment of the world's highest court and are widely cited by other courts, tribunals, and legal scholars. An advisory opinion can reshape international law just as powerfully as a binding judgment, sometimes more so because the legal questions tend to be broader and more fundamental.