Rena Lee, first Singaporean nominated for International Court of Justice, gets full government backing ahead of UN vote

“Ambassador Lee is a distinguished international law practitioner with over three decades of deep expertise across a broad spectrum of international law, including the law of the sea, environmental law, international humanitarian law, and human rights law,” the ministries said in the joint release.

They noted that as president of the UN Intergovernmental Conference on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), Ms Lee had steered five years of complex, high-stakes multilateral negotiations. 

These negotiations led to the adoption, by consensus, of the landmark BBNJ Agreement in 2023 to protect marine biodiversity in international waters.

“This major achievement is a testament to her ability to combine deep legal expertise with sensitivity to diverse perspectives, which allows her to bridge differences among nations with different legal traditions and geopolitical interests.”

Ms Lee also holds positions in institutions including the Permanent Court of Arbitration and the Panel of Conciliators of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes.

“Ambassador Lee possesses eminent professional standing. Her integrity, impartiality, and vision for a rules-based international order make her a good choice for the ICJ,” said MFA and MinLaw. 

“If elected, she would be well-placed to contribute constructively to the functioning of the ICJ and the advancement of international 
law.”