First Vietnamese female Judge sworn in at International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in Hamburg
VGP - Vietnamese Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Thị Lan Anh and newly elected judges from Ghana, Brazil, Tunisia and India were sworn in at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) in Hamburg, Germany, on October 1.
Vietnamese Ambassador in Germany Nguyen Dac Thanh (L) congratulates Vietnamese Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Thị Lan Anh - Photo: VNA
Nguyen is the first Vietnamese national to hold this position in the 30-year history of the ITLOS, marking a significant step forward in Viet Nam's efforts to participate in international judicial institutions.
Previously, at the 36th Meeting of States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), held in New York, United States, in recent June, she was elected as an ITLOS judge for the 2026–2035 term in the first round of voting, receiving the highest number of votes among candidates from the Asia-Pacific region.
Nguyen also became the first female judge from Southeast Asia to serve on the judicial body for the law of the sea established under UNCLOS. Her term began on October 1, 2026.
Since ITLOS began operating in 1996, 62 people have been elected as judges of the Tribunal, including nine women.
Viet Nam's first-ever representation by a judge on ITLOS reflects the international community's recognition and appreciation of the professional expertise of Vietnamese legal experts, as well as the nation's role and contributions to promoting respect for international law.
It marks a historic milestone in Viet Nam's integration into the international legal system and contributes to strengthening its position as an active and responsible member of the international community.
As an independent judge, the Vietnamese expert will have the opportunity to contribute directly to the work of the Tribunal, promote the consistent interpretation and application of the 1982 UNCLOS, facilitate the peaceful settlement of disputes, and strengthen the legal order at sea.
ITLOS is an independent international judicial body responsible for the peaceful settlement of disputes concerning the interpretation and application of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. It was established under the 1982 UNCLOS and held its inaugural session on October 18, 1996./.