Where is the headquarters of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) located?

Appeared in: CGHS SSC - 2018

Explanation

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands.
It is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations (UN) and is seated in the Peace Palace.
The ICJ's primary role is to adjudicate disputes between member states and provide advisory opinions on international legal issues.
This location was established along with the court itself by the UN Charter in 1945.

Option A: Perth is a major city in Australia but does not host the headquarters of any principal organs of the United Nations.
Option B: Washington D.C. is the capital of the United States and hosts the headquarters of U.S. federal bodies, such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), but not the ICJ.
Option D: London hosts the headquarters for other international bodies like the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the Commonwealth of Nations, but not the ICJ.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Headquarters of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
While this is a general knowledge question, awareness of international institutions is part of being a well-rounded professional.
Nurses working in global health, for NGOs, or with refugee populations may interact with frameworks related to international law and human rights, which are upheld by bodies like the ICJ.
What if the question was about the International Council of Nurses (ICN)? The answer would be Geneva, Switzerland. Knowing the locations of key professional and legal bodies is important for general awareness.

How to Approach the Question

Identify the question as a factual recall question about the location of a major international organization.
Scan the options to see if any are well-known seats of international bodies.
Recall or deduce that The Hague in the Netherlands is famous for hosting international courts.
Eliminate other options. Washington D.C. is the U.S. capital, and London, while a global city, is not primarily known for hosting the UN's main court.
Confirm the choice. The Hague is the correct location for the ICJ.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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Practise the full CGHS SSC - 2018

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.