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SINGAPORE: Ambassador for International Law Rena Lee has been elected as a judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), said the Ministry of Law (MinLaw) on Wednesday (Nov 4).\u00a0<\/p>\n
She is the first Singaporean and the first woman from Southeast Asia to be elected to the court, the ministry added.<\/p>\n
Ms Lee, 57, secured one of five seats on the 15-judge court for the 2027 to 2036 term.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She will begin her term in February 2027.<\/span><\/p>\n The election was held on Tuesday at the United Nations headquarters in New York, with voting conducted in both the UN General Assembly and the UN Security Council.<\/span><\/p>\n Ms Lee secured an absolute majority in both bodies, receiving 151 out of 191 votes in the General Assembly and 13 out of 15 votes in the Security Council.<\/span><\/p>\n She received the highest number of votes in the General Assembly and the joint-highest number in the Security Council.<\/span><\/p>\n The Singapore government congratulated Ms Lee on her election, calling it a significant milestone for the country.<\/span><\/p>\n MinLaw said the strong support reflected the international community’s trust and confidence in Ms Lee, and wished her and the incoming ICJ bench a successful term.<\/span><\/p>\n Her candidature was first announced in 2024, and she was formally nominated in 2026.<\/span><\/p>\n On her election, Ms Lee said: “I am deeply honoured by the trust and confidence that the international community has placed in me. I am grateful to the many countries that have supported my candidature.<\/span><\/p>\n “The International Court of Justice plays a vital role in the peaceful settlement of disputes and the upholding of international law, particularly at a time of growing global uncertainty. I look forward to serving on the Court with independence, impartiality and integrity, and to contributing to its important work in the years ahead.”<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n