Statement by H.E. Ambassador OSUGA Takeshi, Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, at the seventy-fifth session of the United Nations General Assembly, 20th plenary meeting on the Report of the International Court of Justice (Agenda Item 74)
2020/11/3
Madam. President,
I would like to begin by thanking President Yusuf for his dedication and leadership, as well as for his in-depth and comprehensive report on the work of the Court in the past year. I also express my deep appreciation for the dedicated work of the members of the Court and the Registry.
Hearing the Report, I was impressed by how much the Court has achieved, given the size of the administrative body. Japan highly appreciates the efficient services of Registry officials led by the Registrar to ensure sound administration of justice while maintaining high quality public information services.
Japan especially appreciates the Court’s efforts in response to COVID-19. Japan supports the Court’s flexibility in deciding to hold hearings and reading of judgments by video link, and to make relevant amendments to the Rules of Court. Japan would like to commend the Court’s ongoing efforts to review its procedures and working methods in order to continue discharging its judicial functions despite the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic.
Madam. President,
Japan has high regard for the work of the ICJ as the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. The international community today enjoys the benefit of numerous peaceful means of dispute settlement other than the ICJ, but there is no doubt that the ICJ occupies a special and central place among them. The increase in the number of cases brought before the ICJ demonstrates that more and more States respect and support the legal wisdom of the Court and the role it plays in the peaceful settlement of international disputes.
Japan became a State party to the Statute of the ICJ in 1954, two years before it joined the United Nations. Japan has accepted the compulsory jurisdiction of the ICJ since 1958. Today, 74 States have made the “optional clause” declaration under article 36, paragraph 2 of the Statute, and about 300 bilateral and multilateral treaties recognize the ICJ’s jurisdiction over disputes concerning the interpretation or application of the treaty. Japan fully supports General Assembly resolution 74/191, which called on “States that have not yet done so to consider accepting the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice in accordance with its Statute”.
Madam. President,
Before I conclude, I would like to express Japan’s support for the establishment of a trust fund for the Judicial Fellows Program of the Court. Japan expects that this initiative will contribute to enhancing the geographical and linguistic diversity of legal practitioners who will participate in the Program. By familiarizing more international lawyers from around the world with the procedures and the working methods of the ICJ, we can expect to broaden the diversity of counsel and advocates appearing before the Court.
I reiterate Japan’s unwavering support for the essential role the Court plays in maintaining stable, rules-based international relations by clarifying international law through its respected judgments and advisory opinions. With the elections of five ICJ judges a few days away, I would like to stress that the responsibility rests with all of us who attach importance to upholding the rule of law to elect the best qualified judges of high moral character to the Court.
In concluding, I would like to express, on behalf of my Government, our most sincere appreciation for the invaluable support of the Member States to the candidate from Japan, Dr. IWASAWA Yuji, incumbent Judge of the ICJ, in the upcoming elections.
I thank you, Madam. President.
I would like to begin by thanking President Yusuf for his dedication and leadership, as well as for his in-depth and comprehensive report on the work of the Court in the past year. I also express my deep appreciation for the dedicated work of the members of the Court and the Registry.
Hearing the Report, I was impressed by how much the Court has achieved, given the size of the administrative body. Japan highly appreciates the efficient services of Registry officials led by the Registrar to ensure sound administration of justice while maintaining high quality public information services.
Japan especially appreciates the Court’s efforts in response to COVID-19. Japan supports the Court’s flexibility in deciding to hold hearings and reading of judgments by video link, and to make relevant amendments to the Rules of Court. Japan would like to commend the Court’s ongoing efforts to review its procedures and working methods in order to continue discharging its judicial functions despite the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic.
Madam. President,
Japan has high regard for the work of the ICJ as the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. The international community today enjoys the benefit of numerous peaceful means of dispute settlement other than the ICJ, but there is no doubt that the ICJ occupies a special and central place among them. The increase in the number of cases brought before the ICJ demonstrates that more and more States respect and support the legal wisdom of the Court and the role it plays in the peaceful settlement of international disputes.
Japan became a State party to the Statute of the ICJ in 1954, two years before it joined the United Nations. Japan has accepted the compulsory jurisdiction of the ICJ since 1958. Today, 74 States have made the “optional clause” declaration under article 36, paragraph 2 of the Statute, and about 300 bilateral and multilateral treaties recognize the ICJ’s jurisdiction over disputes concerning the interpretation or application of the treaty. Japan fully supports General Assembly resolution 74/191, which called on “States that have not yet done so to consider accepting the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice in accordance with its Statute”.
Madam. President,
Before I conclude, I would like to express Japan’s support for the establishment of a trust fund for the Judicial Fellows Program of the Court. Japan expects that this initiative will contribute to enhancing the geographical and linguistic diversity of legal practitioners who will participate in the Program. By familiarizing more international lawyers from around the world with the procedures and the working methods of the ICJ, we can expect to broaden the diversity of counsel and advocates appearing before the Court.
I reiterate Japan’s unwavering support for the essential role the Court plays in maintaining stable, rules-based international relations by clarifying international law through its respected judgments and advisory opinions. With the elections of five ICJ judges a few days away, I would like to stress that the responsibility rests with all of us who attach importance to upholding the rule of law to elect the best qualified judges of high moral character to the Court.
In concluding, I would like to express, on behalf of my Government, our most sincere appreciation for the invaluable support of the Member States to the candidate from Japan, Dr. IWASAWA Yuji, incumbent Judge of the ICJ, in the upcoming elections.
I thank you, Madam. President.