Rena Lee, 57, elected as ICJ judge,1st S'porean & Southeast Asian woman to take up role

The United Nations (UN) held an election on Nov. 3, 2026 for five open seats on the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for the 2027-2036 term.

The ICJ is the UN's principal judicial organ that settles legal disputes submitted by states in accordance with international law and giving advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it.

Ambassador for International Law, Rena Lee, made history by becoming the first Singaporean to be elected as an ICJ judge after securing an “absolute majority” in votes.

The 57-year-old is also the first Southeast Asian woman to be elected into the world court.

Voting was conducted in both the UN General Assembly (UNGA) and UN Security Council (UNSC) at the UN Headquarters in New York.

Lee received 151 votes out of 191 votes in the UNGA and 13 votes out of 15 votes in the UNSC, according to a joint press release from Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Law.

Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and Law Minister Edwin Tong were both in New York to support Lee’s candidature.

"This is particularly meaningful for a small state like Singapore. At a time when international law and the rules-based multilateral system are under increasing strain, Rena’s election underscores the importance of strong international institutions and the contributions that small states can make on the world stage," Vivian said.

"Singapore has long been a staunch defender of an inclusive and rules-based international order. For international law to truly work, it must be anchored in institutions that are trusted, credible and effective. The ICJ is one such institution. For it to remain strong and effective in upholding international law, its bench must continue to comprise well-qualified Judges who serve with integrity. I am confident, without reservation, that Ambassador Lee will rise to the challenge and make a meaningful contribution to the Court," Tong said, according to the press release.

Who is Rena Lee?

A seasoned international law practitioner, Lee was appointed the Ambassador for International Law in 2023.

Prior to that, she was the Ambassador for Oceans and Law of the Sea Issues and Special Envoy of the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Lee was named among the 100 most influential people by Time magazine in 2024 as a result of her leadership in steering complex negotiations for over five years, which culminated in the adoption of the historic High Seas Treaty.

The treaty provides the world's first binding global legal framework to protect marine biodiversity.

Lee was also the Chief Executive of the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore from 2020 to 2025.