Singapore nominates Rena Lee for ICJ seat in a competitive global contest
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Singapore has put forward Ambassador for International Law Rena Lee for the Nov. 3 International Court of Justice election, seeking its first-ever seat on the 15-member bench through a widely watched international vote.
Singapore announced that Ambassador for International Law Rena Lee, 57, will stand as the nation’s candidate in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) election scheduled for Nov. 3. Lee, an experienced international law practitioner and former government legal adviser, has worked on matters ranging from the law of the sea to climate, humanitarian and human-rights law, bringing substantial legal credentials to a prestigious global institution.
The ICJ, based in The Hague, holds elections every three years to fill five of its 15 judges. Candidates are elected by secret ballot in both the UN General Assembly and the Security Council, needing an absolute majority in each body. The judges elected this cycle will serve a nine-year term from 2027 to 2036.
Lee’s candidacy is the first from Singapore and, if successful, would make her the first female ICJ judge from Southeast Asia and from a small state. Minister for Law Edwin Tong noted that the last judge from the region was appointed more than five decades ago, highlighting the significance of this opportunity for Singapore and for regional representation at the court. Lee previously led the UN Intergovernmental Conference on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction and helped conclude the high-seas treaty under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. She has also held senior roles in Singapore’s Attorney-General’s Chambers, Ministry of Defence and Intellectual Property Office.
The election features ten candidates from Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America, with nominations ranging from 33 for Lee to as few as two for some contenders. While nomination counts indicate support, the final outcome depends on votes in both UN bodies, and the distribution of seats traditionally reflects regional groupings within the Security Council, making the contest both carefully balanced and highly consequential.