The PCA was the first permanent intergovernmental organisation to provide a forum for the resolution of international disputes through arbitration and other peaceful means.

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The PCA was established by the Convention for the Pacific Settlement of International Disputes, concluded at The Hague in 1899 during the first Hague Peace Conference. The Conference had been convened at the initiative of Czar Nicolas II of Russia “with the object of seeking the most objective means of ensuring to all peoples the benefits of a real and lasting peace, and above all, of limiting the progressive development of existing armaments.”

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The PCA has a three-part organisational structure consisting of an Administrative Council that oversees its policies and budgets, a panel of independent potential arbitrators known as the Members of the Court, and its Secretariat, known as the International Bureau, headed by the Secretary-General. The PCA is currently acting as registry in 3 interstate proceedings, 109 investor-state arbitrations and 52 cases under contracts or other agreements involving a state or other public entity. 

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You can apply to the MUNLawS PCA as an Advocate or an Arbitrator. The working procedure of the of the committee will be led by the President of the Tribunal, who will also prepare the Study Guide that will be published on this website prior to the Conference. There shall be four Advocates in teams of two in the PCA committee. One pair shall act on behalf of the Applicant and the other on behalf of the Respondent. Each pair shall prepare a written memorandum prior to the Conference and submit it to the Academic team. The memorandum will be reviewed by the MUNLawS Academic team and shall represent 1/3 of the final score of the advocates, based on which the Best Advocate title will be awarded. The presentation before the Court, scored by the Arbitrators, shall represent the remaining 2/3 of the final score. Precise instructions on how to write a memorandum are published on this website. The Arbitrators shall study the memorandums of the Applicant and the Respondent prior to the Conference. They will then hear the presentations of both parties, ask the Advocates questions with regard to their presentations and express their opinion during Arbitrators’ deliberation. At the end of the presentation, the Arbitrators shall vote on the claims made by the Advocates and write an award based on the outcome of the vote. Based on their performance during the sessions, the Arbitrators’ work shall be scored by the President.