The Permanent Court of Arbitration is pleased to announce the publication of its 2023 Annual Report

The Permanent Court of Arbitration (the “PCA”) is pleased to announce the publication of its 2023 Annual Report.

In 2023, the PCA experienced unprecedented growth and registered a record-breaking number of 82 new cases throughout the year. This marks the largest number of new registry cases ever received by the PCA in a single calendar year, surpassing the previous record of 59 cases set in 2020 and almost equalling the total from the last two years combined (90 cases in 2021 and 2022).

Through the cooperation agreements concluded in 2023 with the Lagos Chamber of Commerce International Arbitration Centre (LACIAC) and with the Scottish Arbitration Centre, the PCA further expanded its capacity to readily hold hearings and meetings around the globe, in keeping with its mission to be accessible “to all” and “at all times”. In addition, 2023 was the first full year of operation of the PCA’s new offices in Vienna (Austria) and Ha Noi (Viet Nam). The PCA now has six offices worldwide, including its headquarters, the Peace Palace in The Hague:

The 2023 Annual Report also describes the preparations in the lead-up to the PCA’s 125th Anniversary celebrations in 2024: in April 2023, the PCA Administrative Council adopted a resolution celebrating the 125th anniversary of the PCA in 2024 and constituting a Special Working Group to propose commemorative activities for the anniversary.

On 3 August 2023, the United Nations General Assembly adopted, via consensus, Resolution 77/322 on the Commemoration of the 125th anniversary of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (the “UNGA Resolution”). The UNGA Resolution welcomes the 125th anniversary of the establishment of the PCA, recognizes the important contributions of the PCA to the peaceful settlement of disputes, and encourages all UN Member States to make use of the PCA’s services in arbitration, conciliation, mediation, commissions of inquiry, and other peaceful means of dispute resolution. It further encourages all UN Member States that have not yet done so to accede to the Conventions for the Pacific Settlement of International Disputes of 1899 and 1907.

In the course of 2023, the PCA’s International Bureau provided registry services in 246 cases, 82 of which were initiated that year.

The cases administered over the course of 2023 involved parties from over 110 States. In these cases, at least one of the disputing parties came from each of the United Nations Regional Groups in the proportions shown below.

Additionally, the PCA received 58 requests relating to its appointing authority services.

The PCA’s reports for previous years are available here.