UN Secretary-General urges renewed respect for international law, to visit The Hague for ICJ anniversary

The United Nations Secretary-General urged world leaders on Thursday to reaffirm international law and institutions, warning that "too many are choosing to turn a blind eye to justice itself." He said rules governing the use of force and the conduct of hostilities are being ignored and that civilians and UN personnel are being harmed as a result.

"This wholesale assault on international law has consequences. Lawlessness breeds chaos. Lawlessness fuels suffering. Lawlessness leads to destruction," the Secretary-General said, announcing he will travel to The Hague later this week to mark the 80th anniversary of the International Court of Justice. "The ICJ is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations and the pillar of the international legal order," he said.

He framed the trip as a message that "the United Nations stands firmly behind the institutions and principles designed to protect peace, justice, sovereignty, and human dignity," and that international law "applies to all states without exception." The Secretary-General warned that in a world of increasing fragmentation and sharper power competition, respect for international law is indispensable to prevent instability and conflict from spiraling.

Turning to the crisis in the Middle East, he said there is "no military solution to this crisis" and urged that "serious negotiations must resume" while a ceasefire be preserved and extended as necessary. He also reminded states that international navigational rights and freedoms, including in the Strait of Hormuz, must be respected.

The Secretary-General closed by urging "restraint and responsibility" and calling for diplomacy over escalation, saying this is "the moment to reaffirm" international law.