Rena Lee elected to International Court of Justice as first Singaporean judge
Rena Lee secured 151 votes in the UN General Assembly and 13 in the Security Council, becoming the first Singaporean and first Southeast Asian woman on the ICJ for the 2027-2036 term.
Ambassador for International Law Rena Lee has been elected as a judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the Ministry of Law announced on Wednesday. Lee, 57, won one of five seats on the 15-judge bench for the 2027-2036 term and will begin her duties in February 2027.
The election, held at the United Nations headquarters in New York, required votes from both the UN General Assembly and the Security Council. Lee received an absolute majority in both bodies, with 151 of 191 votes in the General Assembly and 13 of 15 votes in the Security Council, the highest tally in the former and joint-highest in the latter.
She is the first Singaporean and the first woman from Southeast Asia to serve on the ICJ. The Singapore government praised the result as a milestone, noting the strong support reflected international confidence in her expertise.
"I am deeply honoured by the trust and confidence that the international community has placed in me," Lee said, adding that she looks forward to serving with independence, impartiality and integrity.
Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan described the election as a "remarkable achievement and a moment of immense pride for Singapore," while Law Minister Edwin Tong said the vote underscores confidence in Lee amid a competitive field of candidates.