DFA wants Miriam as UN court judge

Foreign Secretary Domingo Siazon has endorsed the candidacy of Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago for judge in a United Nations court.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced that it is set to file the candidacy of Santiago for one of the 14 seats in a UN international tribunal.

Siazon announced yesterday that he has instructed the Philippine mission in New York to submit Santiago’s application.

The tribunal will be established by the UN next year for the prosecution of human rights violations committed in the former Yugoslavia and in Rwanda.

Siazon was appropriately approving of the personal letter Santiago sent to the DFA to convey her desire to serve in the UN judicial body, whose judges are to be elected by UN member-nations next year.

"She is eminently qualified because she is a lawyer. We want a Filipino running (for such a position)," Siazon said.

The election for judges will be held from September to October next year during the UN General Assembly but the candidacy has be filed by January so that the UN Security Council can scrutinize the list of nominees.

The judges shall be elected for a term of four years and will not be eligible for reelection.

Siazon said Santiago’s application would need the recommendation of no less than President Estrada but her application would be basically processed by the DFA.

Siazon said he has instructed top Filipino diplomats to lobby for Santiago’s candidacy, including DFA assistant secretary for UN and international organizations Rosalinda Tirona, assistant secretary for Asia and the Pacific affairs Willy Gaa and Philippine Permanent Representative to the UN Felipe Mabilangan.

A UN draft resolution defining the qualifications for a seat in the international tribunal are of the highest standards.

The judges "shall be persons of high moral character, impartiality and integrity who possess the qualifications required in their respective countries for appointment to the highest judicial offices," the resolution said.

It added: "In the overall composition of the Chambers and sections of the trial Chambers, due account shall be taken of the experience of the judges in criminal law, international law, including international humanitarian law and human rights law."

The tribunal will prosecute persons responsible for serious violations of international humanitarian law committed in the former Yugoslavia to contribute to the restoration and maintenance of peace and order in the territory.

It will also prosecute persons responsible for genocide and other serious violations of international law to contribute to the process of national reconciliation and the restoration and maintenance of peace in Rwanda and in the region.

The election of additional judges for the tribunal is expected to expedite the resolution of the cases in the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda.