Veteran S’pore legal expert nominated for election as judge to International Court of Justice
Source: Straits Times
Article Date: 15 Oct 2024
Author: Vihanya Rakshika
Mrs Rena Lee comes with more than three decades of experience in international law and diplomacy.
A veteran international law expert and diplomat will be fielded by Singapore for election to become a judge at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague in 2026.
Mrs Rena Lee comes with more than three decades of experience in international law and diplomacy, working for the Government, said the Ministry of Law and Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a joint statement on Oct 14.
Her career includes stints at the Attorney-General’s Chambers and Ministry of Defence, and most recently, at the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore, where she was chief executive.
Singapore has consistently supported the work of the ICJ, in step with its commitment to uphold international law, the statement said.
The ICJ is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations and a key plank in efforts to peacefully resolve disputes between nations. The Hague, where the ICJ sits, is the Dutch seat of government, and a major city in the Netherlands.
Mrs Lee is an expert in the law of the sea, climate change rules, environmental law, international humanitarian law, and human rights law.
In the past, she was Singapore’s Ambassador for Oceans and Law of the Sea Issues, and in 2023, was appointed Ambassador for International Law.
She was elected as president of the UN Intergovernmental Conference on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, and successfully led complex talks in the role over five years.
Mrs Lee’s nomination was put forward by Singapore’s National Group to the Permanent Court of Arbitration, and has the full support of the Government, the statement said.
Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, in the statement, said: “This will be the first time a Singaporean is nominated for election as an ICJ judge since Singapore joined the United Nations in 1965...
“Mrs Lee embodies the spirit of impartiality, integrity, and independence of mind invoked in the solemn declaration that all ICJ judges make before assuming their duties.”
He added that if elected, she will enhance the diversity of representation and perspectives on the ICJ bench.
Minister for Law and Home Affairs K. Shanmugam said he was proud to endorse Mrs Lee’s nomination.
“Mrs Lee has distinguished herself in various capacities in the Singapore Government, as a legal advisor and diplomat,” he said.
In each role, she brings with her “deep legal expertise, an unwavering dedication to upholding the rule of law, a vision for growth and development, and importantly, sensitivity to differing views”, he added.
Mr Shanmugam said Mrs Lee’s nomination underscores Singapore’s commitment to the primacy of international law.
“It also reaffirms Singapore’s staunch support for the ICJ’s important role in upholding international law, fostering the peaceful resolution of disputes, and safeguarding the interests of all countries,” he added.
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