The significance of the 1980 ICJ advisory opinion Interpretation of the Agreement of 25 March 1951 between the WHO and Egypt

The 1980 WHO Advisory Opinion constitutes a point of reference when it comes to enunciating the sources of obligations binding upon international organizations. It is also authoritative as it elaborates on the general legal obligations governing the relation between an organization and its host state - a relation which in this case possibly for the first time is framed by the Court as one between legal equals. Incidentally, the Court makes an articulate pronouncement on ‘political’ aspects of a question put before it. This short paper comments on the 1980 WHO Opinion and its significance, and it includes excerpts of the judicial decision.