Singapore's Ambassador for International Law Rena Lee has been elected as a judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for the 2027 to 2036 term, becoming the first Singaporean and the first woman from Southeast Asia to be elected to the court, Malay Mail reported on Wednesday (November 4).
A historic election
The ICJ, based in The Hague, is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations and settles legal disputes between states. A photograph with the report shows the Peace Palace, the seat of the court. The excerpt reviewed does not give details of the voting or the other candidates, so readers should check official United Nations announcements for the full result.
Why it matters
Judges at the ICJ serve nine-year terms and help decide cases that can affect international relations, from border disputes to allegations under treaties. Having a Southeast Asian woman on the bench adds representation from a region that has appeared before the court in several cases.
Regional context
The election comes as the court prepares to hand down a landmark ruling on November 19 in the case brought by The Gambia against Myanmar, which shows the weight of the cases it handles. Malaysia has also been involved in ICJ disputes in the past, so developments at the court are followed closely in the region.
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