Special Committees
International Court of Justice
The International Court of Justice, or the ICJ, is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations (UN), established by the UN Charter in 1945 and began working in April 1946. The court is seated at the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands. The court settles legal disputes submitted by States and gives non-binding advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by the UN organs and specialized agencies, in compliance with the International law. ICJ plays an integral role in settling international conflicts ranging from state responsibilities to territorial disputes. In our conference, we will be focusing on simulating a case that has been previously brought to the ICJ. Through deliberating and evaluating the arguments and evidence presented by the applicant and the respondent, we will reach an objective verdict determined by the judges of the court.
International Criminal Court
The International Criminal Court, or the ICC, is a permanent intergovernmental organization and international tribunal established by the Rome Statute in 2002 and is based in the Netherlands, The Hague. While ICJ is concerned with disputes between States, the ICC prosecutes individuals charged with the gravest crimes of international concern such as genocide, war crimes, crimes of aggression, and crimes against humanity. The ICC is a court of last resort, meaning it intervenes when national judicial systems fail to prosecute the crimes themselves, fortifying the principle of individual criminal accountability under international law. In our conference, we will be focusing on simulating a case that has been previously brought to the ICC. Through deliberating and evaluating the arguments and evidence presented by the prosecution and the defense, we will reach an objective verdict determined by the judges of the court.
Advisory Panel
The Advisory Panel is a committee that aims to address highly complex regional issues. Rather than a large assembly like the General Assembly committees, the AP operates as a smaller committee where members act as "experts" rather than as "delegates." The panel debates critical international issues clause by clause in order to draft a consensus-based joint communiqué. For any decision to be taken, all experts must agree that the solutions presented address every possible concern of the international community. This consensus is confirmed by both voting during the debate and a final vote of the panel. At our conference, the AP will simulate a specific regional crisis through several agenda items that demand international cooperation, which shall be done with experts evaluating and amending clauses until an objective consensus is reached.