Which of the following international agreements is commonly used by the International Court of Justice in disputes concerning riparian rights over shared rivers?

Introduction / Context:
Riparian rights refer to the rights and obligations of states sharing international rivers and watercourses. With growing competition over freshwater resources, disputes about the use of transboundary rivers often reach international legal forums such as the International Court of Justice. This question checks whether the student knows which set of international rules and principles is commonly referred to when dealing with water sharing disputes, particularly in the context of the International Court of Justice and similar bodies.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The problem mentions the International Court of Justice and disputes concerning riparian rights.
• Four agreements are listed as options: Helsinki Agreement, Paris Agreement, Reykjavik Agreement, and Geneva Agreement.
• We assume that the reference is to widely accepted guidelines on the use of international rivers.
• The candidate is expected to link the correct agreement with watercourses and riparian principles.

Concept / Approach:
There are specific principles developed in international law that govern the non navigational uses of international watercourses. The so called Helsinki Rules or Helsinki Agreement on the Uses of the Waters of International Rivers laid down guidelines related to equitable and reasonable utilisation, obligation not to cause appreciable harm, and duties of cooperation. These principles have influenced case law and international practice and are often cited in disputes resolved by the International Court of Justice and arbitral tribunals when riparian rights are in question.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify that the key phrase in the question is riparian rights, which means rights over rivers and shared watercourses.Step 2: Recall that Helsinki Rules or Helsinki Agreement deals specifically with the uses of international rivers and related legal principles.Step 3: Note that the Paris Agreement is widely associated with climate change mitigation commitments rather than river law.Step 4: Recognise that Reykjavik and Geneva are associated more with various diplomatic meetings and conventions but not specifically with riparian rules.Step 5: Conclude that the Helsinki Agreement is the most appropriate and correct choice for disputes concerning riparian rights.

Verification / Alternative check:
A useful way to verify this answer is to recall what each agreement is famous for. The Paris Agreement is clearly about climate change and emissions, while Geneva related agreements usually refer to humanitarian law or arms control. Reykjavik is best known in modern history for a nuclear disarmament summit between the United States and the Soviet Union, not for river law. Only Helsinki is strongly associated with rules on international rivers, which confirms that the Helsinki Agreement must be the intended answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B, Paris Agreement, is wrong because it focuses on global climate change commitments, not directly on riparian rights.Option C, Reykjavik Agreement, is wrong since Reykjavik is more closely linked with Cold War diplomatic talks, not with river law.Option D, Geneva Agreement, is wrong because Geneva is better associated with conventions on war, refugees, and weapons rather than with international rivers and riparian rules.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates may be tempted by options that sound familiar, such as Paris Agreement or Geneva Agreement, because these names are frequently mentioned in the news. However, familiarity alone is not enough; one must connect each instrument with the correct subject matter. Another pitfall is to ignore the keyword riparian, which directly points to rivers and watercourses. Careful reading of the stem and association of key terms with correct legal instruments help avoid mistakes in such questions.

Final Answer:
Helsinki Agreement