Permanent Court of Arbitration

The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) is an intergovernmental organization established by treaty in 1899 to provide a standing forum for the peaceful resolution of international disputes. Headquartered at the Peace Palace in The Hague, it operates as the world's first permanent intergovernmental organization for arbitration and now counts 129 Contracting Parties. Its mandate covers arbitration, conciliation, mediation, fact-finding and expert determination.

The PCA administers arbitration proceedings involving states, state entities, intergovernmental organizations and private parties, with day-to-day administrative support delivered by its International Bureau. Alongside casework, it assists parties in selecting arbitrators, may act as an appointing authority, and provides conciliation and mediation services as alternative dispute-resolution mechanisms. Hearing facilities are available at the Peace Palace and through international offices.

The organization's casework spans international law and dispute resolution, commerce and trade, investment disputes, human rights, and territorial and treaty disputes. It also contributes to scholarship and legal discourse in international dispute resolution, serving a constituency that includes states, state entities, intergovernmental organizations and private parties.