In which city is the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, located?

Introduction / Context:
The International Court of Justice, often abbreviated as ICJ, is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. It settles legal disputes between states and gives advisory opinions on legal questions referred by UN organs and specialised agencies. General knowledge questions frequently test the locations of major international institutions, so knowing where the ICJ is situated is essential.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The institution in question is the International Court of Justice, the main UN court.
• Possible locations provided are Geneva, The Hague, Amsterdam, Vienna and New York.
• We assume that the candidate knows that different UN bodies are located in different cities around the world.
• Only one city correctly hosts the ICJ.

Concept / Approach:
The key idea is to recall that the ICJ is part of the Peace Palace complex in The Hague in the Netherlands. While many UN agencies are located in Geneva and the main UN Headquarters is in New York, the world court is traditionally associated with The Hague. The approach is to distinguish the various UN centres and match each major body with its correct host city.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Peace Palace in The Hague houses the International Court of Justice. Step 2: Note that Geneva is a major UN centre hosting bodies like WHO, UNHCR and others, but it is not the seat of the ICJ. Step 3: Remember that New York hosts the main UN Headquarters and the General Assembly, not the ICJ. Step 4: Vienna is another UN city with agencies dealing with nuclear issues and drugs, while Amsterdam is a major Dutch city, but the ICJ specifically sits in The Hague. Step 5: Therefore, the correct answer is The Hague.

Verification / Alternative check:
A useful verification technique is to associate The Hague with international justice in general. Several tribunals and courts, such as those dealing with war crimes and international criminal law, have also been located in The Hague. This reputation as the legal capital of the world reinforces the link between The Hague and the ICJ. Standard UN handbooks and geography based general knowledge books all list The Hague as the seat of the International Court of Justice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A, Geneva, is wrong because although it is a major UN hub, it is better known for agencies like WHO, the Human Rights Council and other specialised bodies rather than the ICJ.

Option C, Amsterdam, is wrong since the Peace Palace and the ICJ are located in The Hague, not in Amsterdam, even though both cities are in the Netherlands.

Option D, Vienna, is wrong because Vienna hosts organisations such as the International Atomic Energy Agency and UN Industrial Development Organisation, but not the ICJ.

Option E, New York, is wrong as the main UN Headquarters is based there and houses the General Assembly and Security Council, but the principal judicial organ is physically separate in The Hague.

Common Pitfalls:
Many candidates confuse Geneva and The Hague because both are strongly associated with diplomacy and international law. Others think that all top UN organs must be in New York. To avoid this, remember a simple mapping: political centre in New York, humanitarian and specialised agencies in Geneva and Vienna, and legal centre in The Hague. This mental map helps you answer many similar questions quickly.

Final Answer:
The International Court of Justice is located in The Hague.