Lebanese Judge Nawaf Salam was elected as the new President of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for a three-year term, succeeding U.S. Judge Joan Donoghue, according to a press release by the ICJ on Tuesday.
Judge Salam, originally from Lebanon, is the second Arab to hold this position. His term starts with substantial experience, having served on the International Court of Justice since February 6, 2018.
He was born in 1953 to a well-known political family in Beirut and has had a remarkable career, taking on occupations as a diplomat, academic, and jurist. His contributions to the ICJ include serving as one of seventeen judges tasked with making a ruling in regard to South Africa’s genocide claims against Israel, which were filed late last year.
Prior to his recent appointment, Salam cultivated a richly diverse career in academia and diplomacy, with a focus on research and teaching at prominent institutions such as the Sorbonne, Harvard, and the American University of Beirut.
Noteworthy roles include serving as Lebanon’s ambassador to the United Nations from 2007 to 2017.
Salam held various positions at the American University of Beirut, including Chair of the Political Studies and Public Administration Department, Associate Professor, and Lecturer.
Nawaf also practiced law as a member of the Beirut Bar Association, specializing in general litigation, public and private international law, and international transactions.
The ICJ is the primary judicial body of the United Nations, established in 1946. It comprises 15 judges elected for nine-year terms by the General Assembly and Security Council. The court’s seat is at the Peace Palace in The Hague. Its roles are to settle legal disputes submitted by states and to provide advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by authorized UN organizations and agencies.