SA judge set for top UN job

2008-07-18 14:49

Los Angeles - A South African judge is expected to be named as the next United Nations human rights commissioner, according to UN sources.

Judge Navanethem Pillay, who was the first woman of colour to become a high court judge in South Africa, is currently serving on the International Criminal Court.

According to the Los Angeles Times, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is expected to name her as Canadian Judge Louise Arbour's replacement, possibly as early as Friday. Several UN sources confirmed this to the paper and to Reuters.

Pillay was apparently selected over two other contenders, with a selection committee giving weight to her geographic origin, gender and experience, diplomats told the US newspaper.

Born in 1941, Pillay grew up as the daughter of a bus driver in Durban, and has a law degree from Harvard. She became a high court judge in 1995, and was a judge on the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. She has served for five years on the International Criminal Court at The Hague.

Pillay's appointment as human rights commissioner will be subject to approval by the UN General Assembly, Reuters reported.

- News24