As the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, the Court's role is to settle, in accordance with international law, legal disputes submitted to it by States and to give advisory options on legal questions referred to it by authorized United Nations organs and specialized agencies. This publication is an annual record of the work of the Court during the period from 1 August of the preceding year to 31 July of the current year. It discusses a wide range of topics and cases before the Court pertaining to subjects such as territorial rights, law of the sea and treaty interpretation.