The
Permanent Court of Arbitration (
PCA) is an
international organization based in the
Peace Palace,
The Hague, the
Netherlands. It is not a court, does not have permanent judges, and should not be confused with the
International Court of Justice, a separate institution also in the Peace Palace. The PCA is a permanent bureaucracy that assists temporary tribunals to resolve disputes among states (and similar entities), intergovernmental organizations, or even private parties arising out of international agreements. The cases span a range of legal issues involving territorial and
maritime boundaries,
sovereignty,
human rights, international investment, and international and regional trade.