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Meet Judge Julia Sebutinde who voted against all ICJ measures in Israel case

A glance at the ICJ order revealed that while ad hoc Barak voted against 04 of the 06 measures announced by the world court, Julia Sebutinde chose to defer with 17-judge ICJ panel on all 06 measures. Read More

Friday January 26, 2024 11:33 PM , ummid.com with inputs from Agencies

The Hague (Netherlands): The International Court of Justice (ICJ) Friday January 26, 2024 in a landmark move pronounced provisional measures to save the Palestinians in Gaza from the Israeli genocidal acts as sought by South Africa.

In a 29-page ruling, the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to use all the power in its hand to prevent the genocide of the Palestinians, ensure the essentials and humanitarian aid enter the besieged Gaza Strip and submit within a month action taken report.

The ICJ in its initial ruling pronounced six provisional measures. The six measures pronounced by the ICJ Friday were endorsed by all ICJ judges except Julia Sebutinde and Ad Hoc Aharon Barak.

Under the ICJ’s rules, a country that does not have a judge to represent its own on the bench can choose an ad hoc judge. Thus, Aharon Barak is an Israeli lawyer who was appointed to the 15-judge UN Court ahead of the South Africa’s case against Israel.

Aharon Barak’s voting against the ICJ ruling is understandable. But, what is surprising is that ICJ Judge Sebutinde voted against all six measures that even ad hoc Barak did not do.

A glance at the ICJ order revealed that while ad hoc Barak voted against 04 of the 06 measures announced by the world court, Julia Sebutinde chose to defer with 17-judge ICJ panel on all 06 measures.

Who is Julia Sebutinde?

Sebutinde - a British-trained Ugandan judge is the first African woman appointed as judge in the International Court of Justice. Currently in her second term after being re-elected in 2021, Sebutinde has been a member of the court since 2012.

Julia Sebutinde holds a Doctorate of Laws, honoris causa, from the University of Edinburgh for distinguished service in the field of International Justice and Human Rights secured in 2009. Before her doctorate, she did Master of Law with distinction (LL.M.) in 1990 again from the University of Edinburgh and obtained a Bachelor of Law degree (LL.B.) from Makerere University in Uganda in 1977.

Sebutinde was a Judge of the Special Court for Sierra Leone, reportedly handling several high-profile war crime and corruption trials, from 2005 to 2011. Former Chancellor of the International Health Sciences University (IHSU) in Uganda, Sebutinde is is the current chancellor of Muteesa I Royal University, a university owned by Buganda Kingdom.

She was a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) between 1996 and 2011, and a member of the International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ) between 1996 and 2011.

She is now facing the wrath of the people for voting against the ICJ provisional measures announced in the South Africa case which accuses Israel of committing genocide of Palestinians in Gaza.

The International Court of Justice is led by President Joan E. Donoghue from the United States and Vice-President Kirill Gevorgian from Russia with other judges who are from 13 different countries including Slovakia, France, Morocco, Somalia, China, Uganda, India, Jamaica, Lebanon, Japan, Germany, Australia, and Brazil.

South Africa Case against Israel at ICJ

The International Court of Justice (I.C.J.) conducted two days of public hearing on January 11 and 12, 2024 in response to the South African application filed on December 29, 2023.

On the first day of the hearing, a team of lawyers representing South Africa put in front of the ICJ comprising of 15 judges from different parts of the world evidence in support of the Israeli genocide in the Gaza Strip.

The South African lawyers said the “genocide of Palestinians Israel is committing is a part of the state policy nurtured at its highest levels”.

The South African lawyers deposing before the ICJ also alleged that the Israeli soldiers are celebrating and dancing on music after killing the Palestinians and destruction of Gaza.

The ICJ ruling pronounced today is its first order and provisional measures. The final verdict could take a longer time, some say years.

 

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