The International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) provides an independent forum to arbitrate and conciliate investment disputes. ICSID was established under the Convention on the Settlement of Investment Disputes between States and Nationals of Other States (the ICSID Convention)—an international treaty that entered force in 1966, and which today has been signed by 162 States and ratified by 153. ICSID has administered the majority of all international investment cases, and States have agreed on ICSID as a forum for investor-State dispute settlement in most international investment treaties and in numerous investment laws and contracts.