International Court of Justice
Overview
The International Court of Justice, abbreviated as the ICJ, is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. Established in 1945 by the Charter of the United Nations, it addresses legal disputes between States and provides advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it. The Court is composed of 15 judges elected by the UN General Assembly and the Security Council, fulfilling its mandate to settle disputes in accordance with international law.
While many United Nations bodies pass resolutions that serve as recommendations, the judgments delivered by the ICJ in disputes between States are binding on the parties concerned. Furthermore, the Court works to develop and clarify international legal norms, playing a crucial role in the maintenance of international peace and security by offering a peaceful means for the resolution of conflicts. Through its work, WHO supports countries in strengthening their healthcare systems, addresses both infectious outbreaks and long-term conditions, promotes healthier lifestyles, and responds to international emergencies. In this committee, delegates will explore these challenges and collaborate to find practical, balanced solutions that reflect the realities of global well-being today.
Topic overview
Rising from the depths of the Black Sea, the Serpents’ island became the epicenter of a legal dispute that would redefine maritime borders in Eastern Europe. For a long period, Romania and Ukraine had been in a diplomatic stalemate over this piece of land. Serpents’ Island was particularly valuable because of the rich natural gases and oil resource on which it sat atop.
At the heart of this dispute also lies a somehow linguistic riddle. Was this land really and “island” or a “rock”? Under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), an “island” can generate its own vast continental shelf, whereas a “rock” cannot. Furthermore, Ukraine had transformed the islet into a miniature settlement, constructing a post office, a bank, and even a hotel in an attempt to demonstrate that it could sustain human habitation. On the other hand, Romania countered, among other geopolitical arguments, that these were artificial endeavors on a land that historically held nothing but a lighthouse.
Join the ICJ Committee if you wish to explore questions of geography, politics, history, and how sometimes nations tend to write their own rules!
Topics
Romania v. Ukraine
Assigned Journalist
T.B.A.
Chairpersons
Bogdan Dobre
Esteemed advocates and judges,My name is Bogdan and I am a senior at “Vasile Alecsandri” National High School and a future law student in London, and I will be presiding over the International Court of Justice committee alongside Andreea, whom I am eager to collaborate with. I am more than honoured to stand before the future diplomats of my city and country and work towards creating one of the finest conferences in Galați.
Driven by a profound interest in law and geopolitics, I have shown great interest in participating in MUN conferences ever since 2023, a journey which has determined me to acquire new knowledge and skills, all while introducing me to a friendly and open-minded community.
Having been both a chairperson and Deputy President of the General Assembly in the last edition of GalMUN, ending this chapter of my life at the conference I had the opportunity to expand my organisational skills is one I am truly grateful for. As my experience has taught me that toil is the only path to triumph, I wish the best of luck to all participants and I am looking forward to seeing you all in May!
Andreea Stroiu
Most distinguished and talented delegates,Welcome to GalMUN 2026! It is both a pleasure and an honour to serve as one of the chairpersons of the ICJ committee this year, alongside Bogdan. I sincerely hope that we will spend an unforgettable time together and that this experience will represent a forever-cherished opportunity for mutual learning, growth, and diplomacy.
On a more personal note, I am a junior at ”Costache Negri” National College in Galați, deeply passionate about philosophy, universal literature, theology, criminal psychology, and, of course, law. I like to be ”everything in anything”, so you will always find me involved in some sort of extracurricular activity.
One pre-conference piece of advice I wish to give you: question and doubt everything. Never take anything for granted; research it, push its limits, but at the same time do not overly denature it. Raise your placards as high as possible while pursuing excellence and intellectual curiosity. Embrace the courage to be the best and the art of asking questions. :) Should you ever need a piece of advice, I am more than happy to help with my best knowledge.
See you in May, XOXO.
