Introduction

What research options are available to you? What are your time constraints? Take time to create a plan that involves the sources you plan to consult.

There are a wide variety of international courts and tribunals that have varying degrees of relation to the UN. These range from the ICJ, which is a principal organ of the organization; to the ad hoc criminal tribunals established by the Security Council; to the ICC and ITLOS, which were established by conventions drafted within the UN but which are now independent entitites with special cooperation agreements. Other international courts may be completely independent of the UN.

These range from the ICJ, which is a principal organ of the organization; to the ad hoc criminal tribunals established by the Security Council; to the ICC and ITLOS, which were established by conventions drafted within the UN but which are now independent entitites with special cooperation agreements. Other international courts may be completely independent of the UN.

The ICC is not part of the UN.

The Court was established by a treaty. The treaty was negotiated within the UN. The treaty created an independent judicial body.
The Rome Statute was the outcome of a long process of consideration of the question of international criminal law within the UN.
- See the ILC's Analytical Guide, International Criminal Law section, for a introduction to some of the UN's work on this topic.
- The UN Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court adopted the Statute.
Article 2 of the Statute provides for the ICC's relationship with the UN.
General Assembly resolution 58/318 approved the Relationship Agreement between the UN and the ICC, found in document A/58/874 +Add.1.

You will need a research plan which should include what:
- sources to consult in print
- sources to consult online/internet
You will also need to know how to locate, access update these sources and update these sources.When in doubt feel free to consult with a law librarian.

Source: United Nations Dag Hammerskjold's research guide on international law.