Ministry Statements & Speeches:
Mr President,
I have the honour to speak today on behalf of Australia and Canada as well as my own country, New Zealand.
CANZ would like to thank the President of the International Court of Justice, Judge Ronny Abraham, for his report on the work of the Court over the past year. As countries that firmly believe in the rule of law, and the importance of a rules-based international order, CANZ continues to be a long-standing supporter of the International Court of Justice.
CANZ recognises the crucial role that the Court plays as the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. We encourage Member States that have not yet done so to accept the Court's compulsory jurisdiction to enable it to fulfil its role more effectively.
The use of the Court as an organ for the peaceful settlement of disputes should not be understated. The role of the Court as a tool in conflict prevention needs to be further recognised and taken advantage of. Where there is a legal element at the heart of escalating tensions between States, guidance from the Court can play a part in preventing these tensions from evolving into conflict, which is everyone’s best interest.
We are aware that the Court’s caseload continues to be demanding. While the Court finalised a number of complex cases in the last year, it maintains a significant workload for the year ahead. The willingness of States to turn to the Court must be welcomed, as this further highlights the important role the Court plays in the promotion of the rule of law and the peaceful settlement of disputes.
Mr President,
This year marks the seventieth anniversary of the Court’s inaugural sitting. We congratulate the Court on this significant anniversary. CANZ considers the Court remains as relevant today as it has ever been. As the number of international rules governing Member States’ interactions with one another increases, the Court can play an even more significant role to promote the rule of law. Its role in providing transparent and impartial clarifications on questions of international law for the benefit of all Member States continues to be essential.
We look forward to continuing to support the Court in its contribution to the peaceful settlement of disputes.