The Open Society Justice Initiative and the Network Women’s Program hosted an event in The Hague celebrating the achievements of women groundbreakers in the first International Courts (International Court of Justice (ICJ), International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), and International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR)).
Honorees*
- Hon. Louise Arbour, first female Chief Prosecutor of ICTY/R and current UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
- Ms. Carla Del Ponte, Chief Prosecutor of ICTY since 1999 (in absentia)
- Hon. Dorothee DeSampayo, first female Registrar of ICTY (in absentia)
- Hon. Rosalyn Higgins, first female President of ICJ
- Hon. Gabrielle Kirk McDonald, first female President of ICTY and current Iran-US Claims Tribunal Judge
- Hon. Elizabeth Odio Benito, first female Vice-President of ICTY and current ICC Judge
- Hon. Navanethem Pillay, first female President of ICTR and current ICC Judge
Public Agenda
2:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
Public Forum–"Justice Is A Woman"
Held in the Lecture Hall, Hague Academy Building (annexed to the Peace Palace)
- Opening remarks by Patricia Sellers, former gender advisor ICTY/R–The Presence of Women in International Courts
- A Conversation with Honorees: H.R.H. Princess Mabel van Oranje, OSI's International Advocacy Director, hosts a discussion with the guests of honor
- Questions and Answers
4:30 p.m.-5:15 p.m.
Media Interviews with Honorees
The Lecture Hall
4:30 p.m.-6:15 p.m.
Wine and Cheese Reception
Grand Hall, Peace Palace
- A Welcome from Debra Schultz, Director of OSI’s Network Women's Program
- Bukeni Tete Waruzi, Director, AJEDI-Ka/Projet Enfants Soldats, Democratic Republic of Congo
- Madeleine, a former girl soldier and advocate, Democratic Republic of Congo
* Honorees will receive their awards at a private ceremony in the evening.