On Thursday, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), based in The Hague, ruled that workers and unions possess the right to strike under the International Labour Organization's (ILO) 1948 Freedom of Association treaty. This treaty has been ratified by 158 countries. The court's decision, reached with a 10-4 vote, underscores the significance of the right to strike, although it refrains from specifying the precise conditions or scope for its exercise. The ILO, a UN agency that establishes global labour standards, sought this advisory opinion in 2023 amidst ongoing disputes regarding the right to strike within its various groups. While ICJ advisory opinions are non-binding, they are often treated as authoritative by national courts, potentially influencing labour laws in countries that have not yet recognized the right to strike. In previous hearings, worker unions argued that strikes are essential for enhancing labour conditions, while employer organizations contended that individual nations should dictate their own labour laws. The ICJ serves as the highest court of the United Nations, resolving disputes between countries and providing non-binding advisory opinions at the request of UN bodies.