Rena Lee Makes History As First Singaporean Elected To International Court of Justice

Singapore's Ambassador for International Law Rena Lee, 57, has become the first Singaporean and first woman from Southeast Asia elected to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Her nine-year term begins in February 2027.

At the 3 November election, she received 151 of 191 votes in the UN General Assembly and 13 of 15 in the Security Council, securing the highest and joint-highest totals respectively.

An NUS law graduate with a master's degree, Lee has over three decades of international law experience across the Defence Ministry, Attorney-General's Chambers and Foreign Affairs Ministry.

She became Ambassador for International Law in 2023 and headed the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore from 2020 to 2025.

Her achievements include leading five years of negotiations towards the landmark 2023 High Seas Treaty, bringing more than 190 countries to a consensus on protecting marine biodiversity in international waters.

She was named among TIME's 100 Most Influential People in 2024.

Based in The Hague, the ICJ settles disputes between countries and issues advisory opinions. It ruled on Singapore and Malaysia's Pedra Branca dispute in 2008.

Lee pledged to serve with independence, impartiality and integrity.