ICJ 80th Anniversary: Waging peace through international law and justice

Posted: 24th April 2026

UNFOLD ZERO Newsletter

Dear Peter Gloyns, 

This UNFOLD ZERO Update reaches you at a time of increased international conflict (including war), nuclear threats and the erosion of adherence to international law by powerful countries, most notably Russia and the United States.

In this context, we reflect on the important role of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in its 80th anniversary year, and we report on the upcoming Review Conference of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT), including engagement of UNFOLD ZERO in this critical event.
 

1. 80th Anniversary of the International Court of Justice

Speakers at the ICJ 80th Anniversary event at the Peace Palace in the Hague:
Judge Iwasawa Yuji, President of the Court; Ms Annalena Baerbock, President of the UN General Assembly; Mr António Guterres, UN Secretary-General;  Mr Jamal Al Rowaiei, President of the UN Security Council; and Mr Tom Berendsen, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands.

On April 18, 1946, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) held its inaugural session. Established by the UN Charter as ‘the principal judicial organ of the United Nations,’ the ICJ has served well to assist in the peaceful resolution of inter-State conflicts through judicial process and the rule of law, and more generally in clarifying and building compliance with the rule of law.

On April 17, 2026 the ICJ hosted the first of a number of events commemorating its 80th anniversary. The event included keynote presentations from the ICJ President, UN Secretary-General, President of the UN General Assembly, President of the Security Council and Foreign Minister of the Netherlands.
 

ICJ President: “The ICJ provides legitimacy and strength to the rule of law”

“The Court was established… with the unshakable conviction that relations between States should be governed by law, not by force,” affirmed Judge Iwasawa Yuji, President of the Court. “At the heart of its mission lies the principle of equality. All States, large and small, stand before the Court on an equal footing. In this Great Hall of Justice, equality is not merely an aspiration but a reality. In each case, the Court respects the consent of States and ensures procedural fairness. This is what gives the institution its legitimacy and enduring strength.”
 

* UN Secretary-General: “The ICJ is a cornerstone of a more peaceful world”

“In a dark and difficult moment (the destruction from World War II), world leaders made a defining choice… to build a Court founded on one overriding conviction: The force of law must always prevail over the law of force,” reflected H.E. António Guterres, Secretary-General of the UN. “In doing so, they did more than create the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. They laid down a cornerstone of a more peaceful world.”
 

* President, UN General Assembly: “The ICJ ensures peace, guided by justice”

“The value of this Court is clear. It has helped to bring justice to those who have tried to evade it. It has provided legal certainty on unresolved issues and helped prevent escalation of conflicts through peaceful dispute settlement,” noted H.E. Annalena Baerbock, President of the UN General Assembly. “As we all know, unfortunately there is no glory in prevention. Yet, the impact of these cases has echoed across regions and societies settling disputes, preventing conflict and wars from even happening, and boosting security for so many.”
 

* Security Council President: “There is increasing confidence in the ICJ and reliance on judicial settlement of disputes”

“While the (Security) Council bears primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, the Court may contribute to this objective by promoting the peaceful settlement of disputes through judicial means, as reflected in Article 33 of the Charter,” affirmed H.E. Jamal Al Rowaiei, President of the UN Security Council. “This important adjudicative role of the Court is reaffirmed in UN Security Council Resolution 2788, unanimously adopted by the Council in July 2025. As we commemorate this milestone, we also recognize the continued confidence of States in the Court, reflected in its growing docket and the increasing reliance on judicial settlement as a means of resolving disputes peacefully and in accordance with international law.”
 

* Netherlands Foreign Minister: “The fact that certain rules are challenged does not mean they cease to exist, or lose their value.”

“We all know the challenges associated with enforcing compliance. But the fact that certain rules are challenged does not mean they cease to exist, or lose their value,” remarked Tom Berendsen, Foreign Minister of the Netherlands. “Around the world we hear the calls for justice. These voices do not, and will not, go unheard. An increasing number of States are turning to this Court, relying on it to resolve conflicts through legal means. These cases reflect the most pressing global challenges, including climate change, human rights violations, territorial demarcation and allegations of genocide.”
  

2. NPT Review Conference, April 27 – May 22

Ambassador Do Hung Viet, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN and President Designate of the 2026 NPT Review Conference, speaking at the UN General Assembly.From April 27 until May 22, States Parties to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT), – which includes most countries in the world –  will be meeting at the United Nations in New York for the 2026 NPT Review Conference.

Every five years, the NPT States Parties meet to consider nuclear risk reduction, non-proliferation and disarmament issues and measures in light of their obligations to implement the NPT. The 2026 Review Conference comes at a time of increased nuclear threats arising from conflicts involving nuclear armed States – including the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the US/Israel attacks against Iran – new nuclear arms races and risks of further proliferation. This makes the deliberations and negotiations in New York very difficult, but also extremely important.
  

* NPT President: Why the NPT Review Conference must not fail

In an article Why the 2026 NPT Review Conference – and Diplomacy – Must Not Fail, published by The Diplomat on April 22, Ambassador Do Hung Viet, President Designate of the 2026 NPT Review Conference, warns about the renewed nuclear arms race and the increasing risks of nuclear war, and discusses the important role of the NPT Review Conference to build trust and diplomacy to reverse these trends.

“As history demonstrates, the demanding work of dialogue and trust-building can be effective in negotiating mutually beneficial restraints and forging solid foundations for long-lasting stability,” says Ambassador Viet.

“The NPT emerged from the recognition that in a nuclear age, security is indivisible. No nation, no matter how powerful, can insulate itself from the consequences of nuclear Armageddon, and the belief that safety lies in accumulating ever more destructive capacity offers only the illusion of security,” remarks Ambassador Viet. “The diplomatic path is demanding, often frustrating, and rarely produces the dramatic breakthroughs that capture headlines, but it remains the only path that does not court catastrophe.”
  

* Endorse the Nuclear Abolition Day Appeal

We cordially invite you to endorse the Nuclear Abolition Day Appeal, if you have not already done so. The Appeal, which will be presented on May 1 to the Review Conference, calls on States to:

1. Affirm that the threat or use of nuclear weapons is inadmissible;
2. Undertake concrete measures to reduce nuclear risks, including standing down nuclear forces and adopting policies never to initiate a nuclear war;
3. Pledge to achieve the global elimination of nuclear weapons no later than 2045 (the UN’s centennial anniversary), and immediately commence multilateral negotiations to implement this pledge;
4. Cut nuclear weapons budgets, and end public and private investments in the nuclear weapons industry;
5. Redirect these funds to strengthen the United Nations, advance peacekeeping and conflict resolution, accelerate steps to protect the climate, and meet human and economic needs as required under Article 26 of the UN Charter.

The Appeal has already been endorsed by over 600 organizations and more than 1200 additional individuals from 99 countries, including Nobel Laureates, former high level officials (foreign ministers, UN Officials…), parliamentarians, local body representatives, other political leaders, academics/scientists, religious leaders, medical professionals, youth leaders, educators, business leaders, artists and other representatives of civil society. It was originally presented to the UN High Level Meeting on the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons on September 25, 2025.
 Endorse the Nuclear Abolition Day Appeal

* UNFOLD ZERO at the NPT Review Conference

UNFOLD ZERO is cosponsoring a number of side events at the NPT Review Conference. Event details are on the Abolition 2000 events page. Most of these are in-person only, for those participating in the Review Conference. However, one of the events Abolition 2000 and PNND Live from the NPT Review Conference, is online. It is organised for people who are not able to attend the NPT Review Conference in person.
  

* Abolition 2000 and PNND live from the NPT Review Conference

Can’t make it to New York for the 2026 NPT Review Conference? No problem…

Keep updated on what is happening at the NPT Review Conference by joining Abolition 2000 and PNND Live from the NPT on Friday May 1 (Day 5 of the NPT Review Conference) at 1:30pm Eastern Time USA.

Experts from Abolition 2000 and Parliamentarians for Nuclear Nonproliferation and Disarmament (PNND) will be interviewed live from the United Nations, where the Review Conference is taking place, and then will be available to answer your questions. The experts include:

• Jackie Cabasso, Executive Director, Western States Legal Foundation. North American Coordinator, Mayors for Peace. Member, Abolition 2000 Coordinating Committee.
• Bill Kidd MSP, Convenor of the Scottish Parliament Cross-Party Group on Nuclear Disarmament. PNND Co-President.
• Alyn Ware, PNND Global Coordinator, WFM-IGP Program Director. Member, Abolition 2000 Coordinating Committee.

Register for the event.

Abolition 2000 is the global network of civil society organizations established at the 1995 NPT Review and Extension Conference to campaign for the global elimination of nuclear weapons. Over 2000 organizations have endorsed the Abolition 2000 founding statement. Yours sincerely
UNFOLD ZERO