Rena Lee elected as first Singaporean judge on International Court of Justice

Ambassador for International Law Rena Lee was elected to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Nov. 3, winning an absolute majority in both the United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council. She received 151 of 191 votes in the General Assembly and 13 of 15 votes in the Security Council, securing a nine-year term that will run from 2027 to 2036.

Lee, 57, is the first Singaporean and the first woman from Southeast Asia to sit on the ICJ bench. She is only the second Southeast Asian judge elected to the court since its founding in 1945, the previous being Judge Cesar Bengzon of the Philippines, whose term ended in 1976.

"I am deeply honoured by the trust and confidence that the international community has placed in me," Lee said after the vote. "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."

Singapore’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan, who was in New York with Minister for Law Edwin Tong, praised the result, noting that it reflects recognition of Lee’s experience and Singapore’s commitment to a rules-based multilateral system. Tong added that a diverse bench strengthens the court’s credibility and effectiveness.

Lee brings more than three decades of experience in international law, including work on the law of the sea, environmental law, humanitarian law and human rights. She previously chaired the UN Intergovernmental Conference on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, overseeing negotiations that led to the adoption of the BBNJ treaty, a binding framework for protecting marine life in international waters. Lee also serves on the Permanent Court of Arbitration and the panel of conciliators of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes, and has held senior legal positions in Singapore’s government agencies.

The ICJ, the principal judicial organ of the UN, holds elections every three years to fill five of its fifteen seats. In this cycle, Lee was elected alongside judges from the United Kingdom, France and Jordan. The court adjudicates disputes between states and issues advisory opinions on legal questions referred by UN bodies.