The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has announced the election of Julia Sebutinde as its Vice President for a three-year term, starting February 6th, 2024. This historic appointment marks the first time an African woman has held such a prestigious position within the ICJ. It underscores her distinguished career in international law and her significant contributions to the judiciary.
A Trailblazing Career
Born in Uganda in February 1954, Julia Sebutinde has a remarkable legal and educational background. She embarked on her legal journey at Makerere University, where she earned a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1977. Sebutinde also obtained a Master of Laws degree with distinction at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland in 1990.
In recognition of her contributions to legal and judicial service, the University of Edinburgh awarded her a Doctorate of Laws in 2009. Before her tenure at the ICJ, which began on February 6, 2012, Sebutinde made her mark as a judge at the Special Court for Sierra Leone from 2005 to 2011, demonstrating her commitment to justice in challenging international contexts.
Educational Background
Sebutinde’s formative years were spent at Lake Victoria Primary School and Gayaza High School in Uganda. She completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice at the Law Development Centre, Uganda in 1978.
Sebutinde holds a Certificate in Legislative Drafting, obtained from the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, in conjunction with the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation (CFTC) in 1983. She also received a Certificate in Advanced Leadership Studies from the Haggai Leadership Institute, Singapore in 1998.
Furthermore, she holds a Certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Skills from the National Judicial College, University of Nevada, Reno, USA in 1997. These institutions laid the groundwork for her future achievements, illustrating the importance of a strong educational foundation in shaping the leaders of tomorrow.
Notable Judicial Opinions
Throughout her career, Sebutinde has been known for her principled stand on complex issues. A notable instance is her dissenting opinion against emergency measures requested by South Africa during the Israeli-Palestine conflict in Gaza alleging it amounted to genocide.
She argued that the dispute was fundamentally political rather than legal, a stance that drew both criticism and admiration.
“In my respectful dissenting opinion the dispute between the State of Israel and the people of Palestine is essentially and historically a political one.” “It is not a legal dispute susceptible to judicial settlement by the Court” – Julia Sebutinde
She stated that South Africa failed to demonstrate genocidal intent by Israel drawing criticism from many including Uganda’s government.
Influence & Global Impact
Sebutinde’s rulings and judicial philosophy have not only shaped legal discourse but have also influenced international relations, as evidenced by reactions to her positions, such as Uganda’s response to her ruling on the situation in Palestine.
“Justice Sebutinde’s ruling at the International Court of Justice does not represent the Government of Uganda’s position on the situation in Palestine.” – Adonia Ayebare – Ambassador of Uganda to the United Nations
Established by the United Nations Charter in 1945, ICJ is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, tasked with settling legal disputes submitted by states and providing advisory opinions on legal questions referred by authorized UN organs and agencies.
