Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
MEDIA STATEMENT BY THE PERMANENT MISSION OF SOUTH AFRICA TO THE UNITED NATIONS (NEW YORK) REGARDING THE RE-ELECTION OF JUDGE NAVANETHEM PILLAY TO THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL TRIBUNAL FOR RWANDA
Ms Navanethem Pillay of South Africa was today re-elected as Judge of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR). In the election process held in the General Assembly at United Nations Headquarters in New York, Ms Pillay received the highest number of votes amongst the eighteen candidates seeking election for the nine vacancies for the Tribunal.
She received a total of 129 votes out of 172. With the re-election of Judge Pillay, South Africa maintains its successful record in elections in the General Assembly since the country's re-admission to the United Nations Organisation in 1994. Judge Pillay was first elected by United Nations General Assembly as Judge of the ICTR in May 1995. In terms of the mandate conferred upon it by the Security Council in 1994, the Tribunal was set up for the prosecution of persons responsible for genocide and other serious violations of international humanitarian law committed in the territory of Rwanda between 1 January and 31 December 1994.
Ms Pillay was the first woman to start a law practice in South Africa in 1967. She became Acting Judge of the Supreme Court of South Africa in 1995 and following her appointment by the Minister of Justice, she served as the first black woman and first attorney on the bench of South Africa.
ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THE PERMANENT MISSION OF SOUTH AFRICA TO THE UNITED NATIONS NEW YORK PRETORIA 4 NOVEMBER 1998