Remarks by H.E. Annalena Baerbock
President of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly
at the Solemn Sitting celebrating the 80th anniversary of the International Court of Justice
Friday, 17 April 2026?
Great Hall of Justice at the Peace Palace
The Hague, Netherlands
Your Majesty,
Honorable President of the International Court of Justice,
Mr. Secretary-General,
Your Excellency, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands,
Your Excellency, President of the Security Council,
Honorable Judges,
Excellencies,
French philosopher Albert Camus once said,
¡°Peace is the only battle worth waging ¨C but justice must guide it.¡±
These words speak to the role of justice in the history of our United Nations.
While rarely spoken of alongside the three main pillars ¨C peace and security, sustainable development, and human rights ¨C its primacy is evident.
Justice is the outcome of sustainable development¡
It underpins lasting peace and security¡
and it guides human rights frameworks.
When people believe in justice, they trust in public institutions, engage in society, and strengthen their communities.
Indeed, it was this desire for justice that gave us the United Nations in the first place¡ an institution borne of the injustices of the 20th century¡ and for 80-years it has been embodied right here, in the International Court of Justice in the Hague.
Normally, 80 years would be a big birthday party to celebrate, yet, as I said at the opening of the 80th session of the General Assembly, these are unfortunately not ordinary times.
Every week brings a new crisis: Ukraine, Gaza, Venezuela, Iran, Lebanon, Sudan.
And beneath it, a multilateral system not only being tested at every turn¡ but straight up attacked. Some states are not even hiding it.
So, if this is not a moment for celebration, it is certainly a moment for recommitment.
And the value of this Court is clear.
It has helped to bring justice to those who have tried to evade it, as we have seen in the case of Belgium vs. Senegal.
It has provided legal certainty on unresolved issues and helped prevent escalation of conflicts through peaceful dispute settlement, as we saw in several decisions on maritime boundaries.
As we all know, unfortunately there is no glory in prevention ¨C 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.
And this relevance is only growing as the Court takes on complex legal questions through its advisory opinions, which reflects the continued trust of Member States in the Court. And yes, I do recognize the workload that comes to it from the General Assembly.
We saw this power when the Court was called upon, just months ago, to provide legal clarity on humanitarian responsibilities in the Gaza Strip.
And we saw it also when the Court recognized the existential threat posed by climate change.
In that Advisory Opinion, resulting from a request by the General Assembly, but passionately supported by young people in small island developing states, the Court also opened another dimension of justice: intergenerational justice, underlining its capacity to evolve over time.
And frankly speaking, it was the first time I saw an ICJ case on social media, celebrated by young people.
And in this regard, as it is time for reflection, I would like to highlight a part of justice that is, in my view, still overlooked: gender justice.
Systemic discrimination against women was not included among peremptory norms identified by the International Law Commission in 2022¡ ?a view that is still, sadly, shared in legal circles today, with arguments that there are other more important and serious topics.
Yet, if the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ is to represent all humanity¡ then all its different entities, including the courts, must reflect its full reality¡ including the fact that half of humanity are women and girls.
And women¡¯s rights are the yardstick for freedom and justice within each society, based on our common foundation, the Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for all.
This includes equal representation of women, as unfortunately almost all Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ bodies, we are not there yet.
Only seven of the Court¡¯s 117 judges have been women¡
only two of the 28 Presidents. The newest election, a female positioned again.
This is not enough, yet, I must say, self-critically, it is better than either the role of the President of the General Assembly, in which I am only the 5th female president out of 80 ¨C and it¡¯s definitely also better than in the position of the Secretary-General, which, as we know, didn¡¯t have a female Secretary-General for 80-years.
But as the current SG said, in every moment, we do have a choice to decide differently, and we start that next week with the interactive dialogues for the next Secretary-General.
Excellencies,
International justice does not begin with a filing¡ nor does it end with a judgment.
It depends on credibility and trust. On the willingness of national systems and international institutions, of politicians and journalists, of civil society and civil servants, to uphold not only the letter of the law, but its spirit.
If societies rise or fall on the presence of justice, then it is our responsibility to nurture it at every turn.
So, as we mark today the 80th anniversary, let us do more than reflect, let us defend justice every day.
For if peace, as Camus reminded us, is the only battle worth waging¡
than let us fight for justice, to ensure that it is truly won for the future.
I thank you.
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