In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, has adopted a series of measures to help contain the spread of the virus and to protect the health and well-being of its judges and staff members and their families, while at the same time ensuring that it can continue to fulfil its mandate. The measures are in line with the recommendations of the United Nations and the authorities of the host country, the Netherlands.
As part of these measures, there will be no hearings or meetings of the Court in March and at least until 16 April.
It has also been decided to suspend all official travel of Members of the Court and Registry staff, to cancel all visits and to implement teleworking, thus reducing to a minimum the physical presence of staff at the Peace Palace, the seat of the ICJ. Members of the Court and Registry staff have also been requested to avoid private travel out of the duty station (The Hague).
The adopted measures will be subject to review as the situation develops.
International Court of Justice
[Press Release dt. 20-03-2020]
ICJ’s calibrated response to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown measures was remarkable. Preventing further transmission and infection of the deadly COVID-19 virus was top priority of the whole world. Such measures were in consonance with scientific community’s suggestions and WHO’s advice.