Global perspective Human stories

New permanent judge appointed to UN war crimes tribunal for Rwanda

New permanent judge appointed to UN war crimes tribunal for Rwanda

media:entermedia_image:679943b4-b360-49d8-a87d-643e91d01627
Secretary-General Kofi Annan today appointed a prominent Pakistani jurist and civil litigator to the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR).

In a letter to the Security Council, the Secretary General announced the appointment of Judge Khalida Rashid Khan to the ICTR. Judge Rashid Khan replaces Judge Mansoor Ahmed, also of Pakistan, who resigned from the court on 22 May for personal reasons. Judge Rashid Khan's appointment is effective from 7 July and will end on 24 May 2007.

Judge Rashid Khan, 53, started her career as a civil judge in Peshawar, Pakistan, in 1974. In 1978, she was promoted as senior civil judge in Peshawar. From 1981 to 1982 she worked as special judge in the anti-corruption in Peshawar and Hazara Division. In 1994, she was promoted to Judge at the High Court of Peshawar, becoming the first Pakistani woman ever appointed to that position. She was also the first woman in Pakistan to be appointed as District and Sessions Judge.