New York, October 25, 2024: Pakistan has stated that given the fact that the threats to global peace and security and violations of the UN Charter and its principles have multiplied, the role of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has become even more indispensable today than ever before. Making a statement in UN General Assembly on the Agenda Item 73 titled “Report of the International Court of Justice”, Ambassador Munir Akram said that many peoples, particularly the people of Palestine and occupied Jammu and Kashmir, continue to be subjected to foreign and colonial occupation and denied their right to self-determination. He said that at a time when the Security Council is virtually paralyzed due to the frequent use and threat of the veto power of some permanent members of the Security Council, the ICJ has played a prominent role in upholding the principles of the UN Charter and international law. Ambassador Munir Akram said that the ICJ is an integral part of the international architecture established under the UN Charter and one of the principal organs of the United Nations. She said that the ICJ, as the guardian of the principles of the UN Charter, offers equal protection of these laws to all States and peoples, especially for States and peoples who are unable to secure justice for themselves. Noting that the court has a critical role in the resolution of conflicts and disputes as well as the interpretation and elaboration of international law, Ambassador Akram said that the ICJ has the competence to secure the universal application of those laws and to issue orders which are binding on Member States. Ambassador Munir Akram further said that the ICJ has outlined four essential principles in its Advisory Opinions and provisional measures to address the Palestine conflict, establishing a framework for conflict resolution and international accountability. He said that the ICJ reaffirms Israel’s obligation, as the occupying power, to ensure the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination within or outside the occupied Palestinian territories. He said the Court also underscores that territory cannot be lawfully acquired through force or military occupation. Israel, he said, is required to compensate for damages resulting from its illegal occupation of Palestinian lands. He further stated that the ICJ calls on all States and the United Nations to actively support Palestinian self-determination and implement the Court’s findings. In a call to reinforce global justice mechanisms, Ambassador Munir urged the UN General Assembly and Security Council to expand the role of the International Court of Justice in defending international law and maintaining world order. He said that the conclusions flowing from the ICJ’s findings have legal precedent and have assumed the force of international law and norms, with universal application. “Indeed, these are principles and norms which must be applied to all similar situations of foreign military occupation and denial of the right to self-determination, especially the situation in occupied Jammu and Kashmir,” he added. Ambassador Akram suggested Pakistan’s proposals of broadening the Court’s compulsory jurisdiction by removing state reservations and allowing binding Security Council decisions for cases involving UN Charter violations; encouraging UN organs to seek more frequent ICJ Advisory Opinions on specific disputes and the legal obligations of Member States; leveraging the ICJ’s role in determining accountability, damages, and compensation due to violations of international law and enlarging the ICJ’s bench and securing additional funding to handle an increased caseload.