First Australian woman elected to the ICJ

First Australian wom elected to the Intern Court of Justice

Distinguished Professor Hilary Charlesworth

International Law and human rights scholar, Distinguished Professor Hilary Charlesworth made history on 5 November 2021 as the first Australian woman ever elected to the United Nation’s International Court of Justice (ICJ). She received an absolute majority of votes cast by the 193 Member States of the United Nations (UN) and will replace former Australian judge, James Richard Crawford, who passed away in May 2021.

Professor Charlesworth, who was educated at the University of Melbourne and Harvard Law School, has worked with various nongovernmental human rights organisations on ways to implement international human rights standards. As a veteran judge, she was chair of the Australian Capital Territory government’s inquiry into an ACT bill of rights, which led to the adoption of the ACT Human Rights Act 2004. Hilary was also appointed judge ad hoc of the International Court of Justice in 2011 for the Whaling in the Antarctic case.

ANU Vice-Chancellor Professor Brian Schmidt congratulated Professor Charlesworth on her election to the ICJ.

“This appointment is an incredible honour and well-deserved recognition of Distinguished Professor Charlesworth’s long and remarkable career as a judge and scholar,” he said.

“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.

“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.

“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’.”

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Following her ICJ appointment, Professor Charlesworth has recently stepped down as Director of the Centre for International Governance and Justice (CIGJ) at RegNet, a position she has held since its inception in 2005.

The centre hosts a vibrant community of scholars dedicated to the study of complex and interconnected 21st century challenges. During her tenure as director, CIGJ was home to her ARC Federation Fellowship on Building Democracy and Justice after Conflict and Laureate Fellowship on Strengthening the International Human Rights System: Rights, Regulation and Ritualism, along with a host of other research projects, including Peacebuilding Compared.

“ she has made her mark not only as a researcher but as an inspiration for those who want to improve the law...”

Professor Charlesworth also holds an appointment as Professor of International Law in the ANU College of Law and is currently Melbourne Laureate Professor at the University of Melbourne.

� View Distinguished Professor Hilary Charlesworth’s profile.

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