Permanent Court of Arbitration

The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) is an international organization established in 1899 to facilitate the peaceful resolution of disputes between states, international organizations, and private parties. Headquartered at the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands, the PCA provides arbitration, mediation, and other dispute-resolution services in cases involving international law, territorial disputes, investment agreements, maritime boundaries, and diplomatic conflicts. Although it is called a court, the PCA does not function like a traditional judiciary; instead, it helps parties establish independent tribunals to resolve disputes through arbitration and other legal mechanisms.