The Hague – Japanese judge Iwasawa Yuji has been elected as the next president of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, Netherlands. He succeeds Nawaf Salam, who resigned in January before completing his tenure.
The ICJ announced on Monday that Iwasawa was chosen as President by his fellow justices. He has served as a judge of the Court since June 22, 2018. Before joining the ICJ, Iwasawa was a professor of international law at the University of Tokyo and chaired the UN Human Rights Committee.
Iwasawa becomes the second Japanese citizen to hold the position, following Hisashi Owada, who served as ICJ President from 2009 to 2012.
In an interview with NHK World Japan, Iwasawa expressed his commitment to supporting the ICJ’s efforts in promoting the rule of law and the peaceful resolution of disputes.
The ICJ elects its President and Vice-President every three years through a secret vote among its members. There are no nationality restrictions, and candidates must secure an absolute majority to be elected. Re-election is also an option.
As President, Iwasawa will preside over all Court meetings and oversee the administration of the ICJ, assisted by the Budgetary and Administrative Committee and other judicial committees. He also holds the authority to cast a decisive vote in case of a tie during judicial proceedings.
The International Court of Justice, the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, was established by the UN Charter in June 1945 and began its operations in April 1946. The Court comprises 15 judges elected by the UN General Assembly and Security Council to serve nine-year terms.
The ICJ’s primary functions are to settle legal disputes submitted by states in accordance with international law and to provide advisory opinions on legal questions referred by authorized UN organs and specialized agencies.
