Law scholar first Australian woman elected to the ICJ

Hilary Charlesworth. Image: supplied - Long-time human rights scholar and international law expert, ANU Distinguished Professor Hilary Charlesworth, has been elected to the United Nations' International Court of Justice (ICJ). Distinguished Professor Charlesworth, who leads the Centre for International Governance and Justice at ANU, is the first Australian woman elected to the ICJ and only the fifth woman elected ever. Her appointment comes with an absolute majority of votes. She replaces former Australian judge, James Crawford, who passed away in May, and will sit on the court for the next two years. She takes up the role with immediate effect. A veteran judge, Distinguished Professor Charlesworth has worked with non-governmental human rights organisations on ways to implement international human rights standards, and is recognised and respected the world over.