ICJ versus ICC
Comparing the world's two principal international courts: their mandates, jurisdiction, and relationship.
Fundamental Differences
The ICJ and ICC are both based in The Hague but serve entirely different functions. The ICJ settles legal disputes between states and gives advisory opinions to UN organs. The ICC prosecutes individuals for genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and aggression. The ICJ determines state responsibility; the ICC determines individual criminal guilt.
The ICJ is a UN organ established by the UN Charter, and all UN members are automatically parties to its Statute. The ICC is a treaty-based court established by the Rome Statute, and only states that have ratified the treaty are members. The ICJ has been operating since 1946; the ICC since 2002. The ICJ has 15 permanent judges; the ICC has 18.
