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Law scholar first Australian woman elected to International Court of Justice
A distinguished academic with the Australian National University, a long-time human rights campaigner and international law expert has become the first Australian woman elected to the United Nations’ International Court of Justice.
Naomi Neilson
Australian National University’s (ANU) Distinguished Professor Hilary Charlesworth has become this country’s first woman elected to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the fifth female judge from anywhere in the world to take up the position. Her new appointment, ANU said, comes with an “absolute majority of votes”.
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Distinguished Professor Charlesworth, who leads ANU’s Centre for International Governance and Justice, replaces the late James Crawford and will sit on the court for the next two years, with immediate effect. As a veteran judge, Distinguished Professor Charlesworth is “recognised and respected the world over”.
ANU vice-chancellor Professor Brian Schmidt commented: “This appointment is an incredible honour and well-deserved recognition of Distinguished Professor Charlesworth’s long and remarkable career as a judge and scholar.
“Over many years, she has made her mark not only as a researcher but as an inspiration for those who want to improve the law and use it to improve our world and our lives. She epitomises the very best of ANU and our core mission as a university that exists to ensure we leave the world in better shape than we found it.”
Distinguished Professor Charlesworth has worked alongside non-government human rights organisations on ways to implement international human rights standards. She has also played a leading role in the development of the ACT’s human rights legislation and has held the role of Distinguished Professor since 2010.
On top of being a Distinguished Professor, she also holds an appointment as professor of international law at the ANU College of Law and is currently Melbourne Laureate Professor at the University of Melbourne. Distinguished Professor Charlesworth has also been appointed judge ad hoc of the ICJ in 2011.
“Through her tireless work, unwavering commitment and endless passion, she has tackled some of the biggest challenges in the world of international justice and human rights,” Professor Schmidt added. “We are all incredibly proud of her achievements and are so fortunate to call her a colleague.
“I have no doubt Distinguished Professor Charlesworth will make a vital and profound contribution, as she always has, on this most important of global stages for the law and in the ‘court of courts’.”
