Australia and the International Court of Justice
This research project on Australia and the International Court of Justice is funded by the Australian Research Council’s Discovery grant scheme. The aim of the project is to identify and assess the place of adjudication in international affairs, focussing on the experience of a particular country - Australia - and a particular institution - the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
The Chief Investigators on the project are Melbourne Laureate Professor Hilary Charlesworth and Professor Margaret Young. Dr Emma Nyhan is a Research Fellow on the project.
The project will offer the first detailed account of the context and impact of the cases in which Australia has been involved before the ICJ. Researchers will build expertise on the role of the ICJ in global governance through doctrinal and empirical research. Interviews with judges, lawyers, diplomats and others will help build an historical record spanning 70 years. This will allow an assessment of the complex roles that adjudication and advisory opinions can play in the resolution of international disputes.
Ultimately, the project will enrich understanding of Australian international affairs and deepen knowledge about adjudication in international dispute resolution and global governance. It will also provide practical guidance on when international adjudication is likely to be productive for Australia, the Asia-Pacific region and the international legal system.
The Melbourne Journal of International Law will publish a Special Issue on 'National Encounters with the International Court of Justice' in 2021, a collection of articles arising from this research project.
Chief Investigators
Prof Hilary Charlesworth
Prof Margaret Young
Check here for research related to the project, ranging from videos, working papers and articles to anticipated book publications.
View our project special journal issue and other selected publications
Listen to our project related videos
- In conversation with Professor Hilary Charlesworth and Bill Campbell AO PSM QC
Australia and the International Court of Justice
Attorney-General's Department (AGD)'s 10th International Law Colloquium, 12 March 2021
Australia and the International Court of Justice hosted an Expert Workshop on 20 May 2020, bringing together practitioners and scholars of international litigation from Australia and overseas. The Melbourne Journal of International Law will publish a Special Issue on 'National Encounters with the International Court of Justice' in 2021, a collection of papers arising from this workshop and research project.
Resources on Australia's engagement with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and international adjudication generally
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Useful Links
Leading academic institutions in international law, research projects and networks on International adjudication and empirical research projects and activities involving the judiciary.
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Overview of Australia's Engagement in the ICJ
Information on Australia’s involvement with contentious cases and advisory opinions.
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Primary Sources
Australia’s Declarations submitted to the ICJ
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Secondary Sources
The Peace Palace Library Staff has prepared a ‘Research Guide on the International Court of Justice’.
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Melbourne Law School
Building 106
185 Pelham Street
The University of Melbourne
Carlton, VIC 3010
Australia