Permanent Court of Arbitration

The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) is an intergovernmental organization headquartered at the Peace Palace, in The Hague, The Netherlands, which was built to house the PCA. Unlike a judicial court in the traditional sense, the PCA provides administrative support in international arbitrations involving various combinations of states, state entities, international organizations and private parties. The cases span a wide range of legal issues involving territorial and maritime boundaries, sovereignty, human rights, international investment, and international and regional trade. The PCA is constituted through two separate multilateral conventions with a combined membership of 127 Contracting Parties. The PCA is not a United Nations agency, but has been a United Nations observer since 1993.

The PCA was established by the Convention for the Pacific Settlement of International Disputes, which concluded at The Hague in 1899 during the first Hague Peace Conference of 1899. The Conference had been convened at the initiative of Tsar Nicholas 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".

In the first three decades of its existence, the PCA was a major forum for resolving inter-state disputes. Subsequently, the organization went dormant for much of the 20th century, as states opted to use the Permanent Court of International Justice instead of the PCA. In the 21st century, the PCA has resurged as a venue for inter-state arbitrations and resolving investor-state disputes.

In February 2026, the Court was acting as registry in 8 inter-state arbitrations, 1 other inter-state proceeding, 92 arbitrations arising under bilateral or multilateral investment treaties or national investment laws, 93 arbitrations arising under contracts involving a State or other public entity, and 7 other proceedings.