Rena Lee Elected As First Singaporean To The World Court
A Historic Milestone For Singaporean Law
Ambassador for International Law Rena Lee has achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first Singaporean ever elected to the bench of the International Court of Justice. The election, which took place at the United Nations headquarters in New York, saw Lee secure an absolute majority of votes in both the 193-member General Assembly and the 15-member Security Council during the first round of voting. She received 151 out of 191 votes in the General Assembly and 13 out of 15 votes in the Security Council.
Lee, who is 57 years old, also makes history as the first woman from Southeast Asia to join the world’s top court. Her election marks a significant return for the region to the court’s bench; the last Southeast Asian judge was Cesar Bengzon of the Philippines, whose term concluded in 1976. Lee is scheduled to serve a nine-year term from 2027 to 2036.
Following the announcement, Lee expressed her deep honor regarding the trust and confidence placed in her by the international community. She emphasized the vital role the court plays in the peaceful settlement of disputes and the upholding of international law, particularly during periods of global uncertainty. She committed to serving the court with independence, impartiality, and integrity.
Extensive Legal Expertise And Career
With over 30 years of experience in international law, Rena Lee brings a wealth of specialized knowledge to the bench. Her expertise spans several critical fields, including human rights law, international humanitarian law, environmental law, and the law of the sea. One of her most notable achievements was serving as the president of the UN Intergovernmental Conference on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction from 2018 to 2023. In this role, she led complex negotiations that resulted in the adoption of the landmark high seas treaty, which provides a legally binding framework for protecting marine life and regulating commercial activities in international waters.
Beyond her work with the UN, Lee has held significant positions in the Permanent Court of Arbitration and the Panel of Conciliators of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes. Her career in government law includes roles at the Ministry of Defence, the Attorney-General’s Chambers, and a tenure as the chief executive of the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore.
The Role Of The International Court Of Justice
Established in 1945 by the founding charter of the United Nations, the International Court of Justice serves as the principal judicial organ of the UN. Based in The Hague, Netherlands, the court consists of a 15-judge panel, with elections held every three years to fill five seats. The court is tasked with adjudicating legal disputes between states and providing advisory opinions on legal questions submitted by UN organs and specialized agencies.
Over its history, the court has handled diverse cases involving territorial boundaries, sovereignty, and human rights violations. A recent landmark opinion from July 2025 established that governments are responsible under international law for harms caused by carbon emissions, regardless of whether they are party to specific climate treaties. Singapore has previously interacted with the court in a territorial dispute with Malaysia over Pedra Branca, where the court awarded sovereignty of the island to Singapore in 2008.
Singaporean officials, including Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan and Law Minister Edwin Tong, noted that Lee’s election reflects the international community’s recognition of her abilities and standing. They highlighted that Singapore remains a staunch defender of an inclusive, rules-based international order and that supporting such multilateral institutions is essential for global stability. Lee was elected alongside other candidates including Dapo Akande of the United Kingdom, Francois Alabrune of France, and Mahmoud Daifallah Hmoud of Jordan.