International court


International courts are formed by treaties between nations or under the authority of an international organization such as the United Nations and include ad hoc tribunals and permanent institutions but exclude any courts arising purely under national authority.

Criminal and civil matters

Early examples of international courts include the Nuremberg and Tokyo tribunals established in the aftermath of World War II. Two such courts are presently located at The Hague in the Netherlands: the International Court of Justice, and the International Criminal Court. Further international courts exist elsewhere, usually with their jurisdiction restricted to a particular country or issue, such as the one dealing with the genocide in Rwanda. In addition to international tribunals created to address crimes committed during genocides and civil war, ad hoc courts combining international and domestic strategies have also been established on a situational basis. Examples of these “hybrid tribunals” are found in Sierra Leone, Lebanon, East Timor, and Cambodia.
International Courts are permanent tribunals judging by International laws and treaties, also when these norms are on civil and commercial matters. International courts should be distinguished from international arbitration forums.

Privileges and immunities

s and high-level staff of such courts may be afforded diplomatic immunity if their governing authority allows.

List of international courts

NameScopeYears activeSubject matter
African Court of JusticeAfrica2009–presentInterpretation of AU treaties
African Court on Human and Peoples' RightsAfrica2006–presentHuman rights
Appellate Body of the World Trade OrganizationGlobal1995–presentTrade disputes within the WTO
Benelux Court of JusticeBenelux1975–presentTrade disputes within Benelux
Caribbean Court of JusticeCaribbean2005–presentGeneral disputes
COMESA Court of JusticeAfrica1998–presentTrade disputes within COMESA
Common Court of Justice and Arbitration of the OHADAAfrica1998–presentInterpretation of OHADA treaties and uniform laws
Court of Justice of the Andean CommunitySouth America1983–presentTrade disputes within CAN
Court of the Eurasian Economic UnionFormer USSR2015–presentEconomic disputes and interpretation of treaties within the EAEU
East African Court of JusticeAfrica2001–presentInterpretation of EAC treaties
Eastern Caribbean Supreme CourtCaribbean1967–presentGeneral disputes
Economic Court of the Commonwealth of Independent StatesFormer USSR1994–presentEconomic disputes and interpretation of treaties within the CIS
ECOWAS Community Court of JusticeAfrica1996–presentInterpretation of ECOWAS treaties
European Court of Human RightsEurope1959–presentHuman rights
European Court of JusticeEurope1952–presentInterpretation of EU law
European Free Trade Association CourtEurope1994–presentInterpretation of EFTA law
European Nuclear Energy TribunalEurope1960–presentNuclear energy disputes
Inter-American Court of Human RightsAmericas1979–presentHuman rights
International Court of JusticeGlobal1945–presentGeneral disputes
International Criminal CourtGlobal2002–presentCriminal prosecutions
International Criminal Tribunal for RwandaRwanda1994−2015Criminal prosecutions
International Criminal Tribunal for the former YugoslaviaFormer Yugoslavia1993−2017Criminal prosecutions
International Military TribunalEurope1945–1946Criminal prosecutions
International Military Tribunal for the Far EastPacific1946−1948Criminal prosecutions
International Residual Mechanism for Criminal TribunalsGlobal2012−presentCriminal prosecutions
International Tribunal for the Law of the SeaGlobal1994–presentMaritime disputes
Permanent Court of International JusticeGlobal1922–1946General disputes
Residual Special Court for Sierra LeoneSierra Leone2013−presentCriminal prosecutions
SADC TribunalAfrica2005–2012Interpretation of SADC treaties
Special Court for Sierra LeoneSierra Leone2002−2013Criminal prosecutions
Special Tribunal for LebanonLebanon2009−presentCriminal prosecutions

List of hybrid tribunals

NameScopeYears activeSubject matter
Extraordinary African ChambersChad2013–presentCriminal prosecutions
Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of CambodiaCambodia2006–presentCriminal prosecutions
Residual Special Court for Sierra LeoneSierra Leone2013−presentCriminal prosecutions
Special Court for Sierra LeoneSierra Leone2002–2013Criminal prosecutions
Special Panels of the Dili District CourtEast Timor2000–2006Criminal prosecutions
Special Tribunal for LebanonLebanon2009−presentCriminal prosecutions

Lectures