Attending a hearing
The Court’s hearings are open to the public, unless one of the parties asks for the proceedings to be in camera or the Court so decides. Press releases give advance notice of the hearings which take place in the Great Hall of Justice in the Peace Palace. The Court’s decisions are always read at public sittings.
To find out the date of the next scheduled hearings or reading of a decision, please consult the calendar.
To prevent any misunderstandings, please read the rules governing attendance at hearings carefully.
- What to expect
The Great Hall of Justice can, in normal circumstances, hold around 180 people: 145 on the ground floor and 35 in the gallery (access via a staircase located outside the Great Hall).
In seat allocation, priority is given to delegations taking part in the proceedings, followed by members of the diplomatic corps, the staff of international organizations, guests of Members of the Court, regular observers of the Court’s activity and, only subsequently, to members of the general public.
The hearings are held in the Court’s two official languages: English and French. Simultaneous interpretation into the other language is available, for which headphones are provided. The languages and corresponding settings are indicated on displays inside the Hall.
The hearings consist of a series of presentations by the agents, counsel and advocates which can last from a few minutes to a number of hours. Readings of the Court’s decisions at public sittings can take between one hour and three.
- Admission for individuals
A special admissions procedure can apply at times for security or practical reasons. In this event, individual visitors are requested to give prior notification of their attendance by means of an online application form. They will only be allowed to attend hearings if their application has been accepted.
Most of the time, however, no such formalities are necessary and valid proof of identity is all that is required.
- Admission for groups
The following procedure has been introduced for the admission of groups of visitors to hearings.
1. The size of groups should not exceed 25 individuals.
2. Applications for admission should be made to the Information Department as far in advance as possible using the online application form for group visits.
3. Groups must arrive at the entrance to the Peace Palace at least half an hour before the start of hearings, failing which admission will not be granted.
- Rules governing visits
Visitors are reminded that they will be entering an international court and are therefore kindly requested to observe appropriate standards of conduct; if not they may be expelled from the premises immediately and denied access to them thereafter.
1. Anybody entering the Peace Palace site must undergo security checks. Access will not be granted unless security staff are satisfied that all necessary conditions have been met. In the interests of public order, children are not allowed.
2. Visitors must carry valid proof of identity (passport, identity card or driver’s licence).
3. There is no dress code, but visitors are requested to dress suitably (no beachwear, provocative attire or display of potentially disruptive or offensive insignia).
4. Visitors shall refrain from making noise, talking to each other and any conduct which may disturb the hearings or other visitors.
5. Groups are not allowed to leave the Great Hall during hearings; they must wait until a break is called.
6. Out of respect for the Court, it is strictly forbidden to eat, drink or read newspapers during hearings.
7. Mobile phones, portable computers, personal digital assistants, cameras and any other audio, video or information processing or recording equipment are prohibited in the Great Hall. Such devices must be switched off or put onto the silence setting, failing which they may be confiscated for the duration of the sitting.
8. Visitors must rise at the request of the President of the Court, the Registrar or the Usher.
9. Anybody causing disruption to the hearing may be removed from the Great Hall.
10. The security staff may at any time call for the evacuation of the Great Hall in the event of an emergency. Please follow their instructions carefully.
11. Visitors are advised not to leave their belongings in the Great Hall unattended during breaks. The Court accepts no responsibility for them whatsoever.
12. At the end of hearings, visitors are kindly requested to put the headphones made available to them back where they found them (by the entrance door to the Great Hall).
- Guided tours of the Peace Palace
Visitors should note that the Carnegie Foundation does not conduct guided tours of the Peace Palace when the Court is holding hearings.
- Peace Palace refectorium
Food and drinks are available for sale to visitors in the Peace Palace refectorium, which is open from 10 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. from Monday to Friday.
Groups of more than ten individuals must book in advance with the Carnegie Foundation (telephone: +31 (0) 70 302 41 37, e-mail: refectorium@albron.nl).
For additional information, please contact the Information Department
Telephone: +31 (0)70 302 23 96
Fax: +31 (0)70 302 23 38
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