The International Court of Justice is the principal judicial organ of the UN. Its seat is at the Peace Palace in The Hague. It operates under a Statute which is an integral part of the UN Charter. Parties to the Statute are UN Member States, but if the General Assembly so decides, other states may be admitted based on the recommendation by the Security Council. The Court has a dual role: To settle in accordance with international law legal disputes submitted to it by States, and to give advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by authorised international organs and agencies. The Court decides in accordance with international treaties and conventions in force, international custom, the general principles of law and, as subsidiary means, judicial decisions and the teachings of the most highly qualified publicists. The Court is composed of 15 judges elected to nine-year terms of office by the United Nations General Assembly and Security Council. Only Member States may apply to and appear before the Court. Appearance is voluntary, but once accepted, the decisions of the Court must be abided by.
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