UN secretary-general: ICJ decisions are binding, weakening international law risks instability

At a solemn sitting marking the International Court of Justice's 80th anniversary in The Hague, the United Nations secretary‑general underscored the importance of international law and the ICJ's role, the UN spokesperson Steph said.

"The court's decisions, including provisional measures, are binding on the parties to a case and respect for those decisions is not optional," Steph told reporters, reading the secretary‑general's remarks. The spokesperson said the secretary‑general warned that "when the law of force replaces the force of law, instability becomes contagious."

Why it matters: International‑law rulings and provisional measures are central to how states resolve disputes and protect civilians; the secretary‑general framed respect for those rulings as a charter obligation and a foundation for global stability.

Steph also noted the secretary‑general held bilateral meetings in The Hague, including with the Dutch prime minister and foreign minister, and met Graciela Gatti Santana, president of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals. The spokesperson said the SG will leave The Hague later in the day.

The briefing reiterated the UN's broader position that international law and the UN Charter should be defended and strengthened, and said the SG hopes the ICJ anniversary will reinforce support for legal avenues over coercion and violence.

The spokesperson concluded by stressing that the secretary‑general's public defense of international law is consistent with his ongoing statements and engagement on conflict and humanitarian access.