International Court of Justice

Dear Advisors and Participants,
It is an honour to serve as President of the International Court of Justice and to welcome you to the Turkish International Model United Nations’ 31st Annual Session.
As a conference, TIMUN consistently aspires to uphold the highest standards of excellence, encouraging participants to engage deeply with global challenges through thoughtful debate and analysis. The International Court of Justice shares this commitment to intellectual rigor and authenticity in simulating real-world judicial processes. In pursuit of an even more enriching and dynamic experience, the ICJ will elevate its proceedings this year by hosting two courts of two different formats. 
The International Court of Justice will proudly carry forward its legacy of fostering rigorous legal inquiry and its traditional format as the court examines the landmark case of Armed Activities on the Territory of the Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo v. Uganda) this year, offering participants the opportunity to deliberate upon international law, state responsibility, and the pursuit of justice in the face of conflict.
Furthermore, this year marks an exciting milestone for the conference as it introduces its very first tribunal court: the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR). This new addition will provide participants with a deeper understanding of international criminal justice and the mechanisms through which accountability is pursued in the aftermath of atrocities. The tribunal will hear two cases: The Prosecutor v. Emmanuel Ndindabahizi and The Prosecutor v. Jean Kambanda, both of which played pivotal roles in shaping the legal and moral discourse surrounding the Rwandan genocide. Through these proceedings, delegates will have the opportunity to engage with issues of individual responsibility, justice, and reconciliation on the global stage.
Each year, we are delighted to see a growing number of applications for our courts, and it is truly rewarding to witness the increasing enthusiasm for this exceptional branch of the conference. The ICJ stands as one of the most sophisticated and demanding experiences within the MUN sphere, and it brings me immense joy to see more students eager to take part in this remarkable journey of learning and collaboration.
Our school’s dedicated ICJ team continues to expand and strengthen every year, driven by the shared goal of making each simulation at TIMUN more authentic and engaging than the last. We remain committed to upholding this tradition of excellence and are confident that this year will surpass all expectations.
I am genuinely excited to work alongside all members of the ICJ and ICTR at TIMUN ’25, and I look forward to another inspiring and intellectually enriching session together.
Best regards,
Aslı Erdem
President of the ICJ