The Hague-based ICJ said the Dutch and Canadians accused Syria of breaching a UN convention against "torture or other cruel treatment", including the "use of chemical weapons", Ednews reports citing France 24.
They asked the court to take urgent measures, including ordering Syria to release prisoners who have been arbitrarily detained and allow access to detention centres by international monitors.
Syria has never previously faced international courts over the war, which erupted after President Bashar al-Assad cracked down on pro-democracy protests in 2011 and has killed more than 500,000 people.
"Canada and the Kingdom of the Netherlands filed a joint application instituting proceedings against the Syrian Arab Republic before the International Court of Justice (ICJ)," the court said in a statement.