Statements
Marcelo Vázquez-Bermúdez
Ecuador Candidate for the ICJ 2027-2036
As the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the most important guardian of international law. I am deeply honored to be nominated to serve as a judge of the ICJ for the term
2027-2036.
In an increasingly challenging and complex state of the world, the crucial functions of the Court have never been more vital, assisting States to resolve their disputes by peaceful means on the basis of international law, and providing advisory opinions to the organs of the
United Nations.
The demands of the international community on the Court are rising, and so are the expectations for its role, thus the importance of electing members of the Court among the most qualified candidates representing the various legal systems of the world.
Over the past four decades, I have devoted my professional life to the development, codification, interpretation, and application of international law as a scholar, as a legal adviser to my country, as a negotiator and leader in multilateral diplomacy, and as a member and former President of the UN International Law Commission (ILC). My career has been guided by a commitment to strengthening the international legal system and advancing the peaceful settlement of disputes among States and the rule of international law. Should I be elected, I will bring to the Court a combination of academic depth, extensive practical experience in international law, and a multilateral leadership, together with a high degree of competence and professionalism, that aligns with the solemn duties and expectations placed upon the principal judicial organ of the United Nations.
Roberto Kury
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His many years of work in the International Law Commission reflect his deep legal expertise, sound judgment, and ability to analyze the most complex legal issues and to propose good solutions in various areas of international law, which qualifies him to serve in the International Court of Justice with competence, commitment and professionalism.
I am proud to present the candidature of Ambassador Marcelo
Vázquez-Bermúdez for election as a Judge of the International Court of Justice for the term 2027-2036.
Dr. Vazquez-Bermudez is a widely respected jurist with a distinguished career as a scholar and practitioner of international law for almost four decades. He has made significant contributions to the progressive development and codification of international law through his long-standing and expert work as a member of the United Nations International Law Commission (ILC). He was elected for four consecutive terms (2007-2027) to the Commission, and served as its Chair (2024), Chair of the Drafting Committee (2009), and Chair of several working groups.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility
The extensive career of Dr. Vázquez-Bermúdez includes key roles, such as Legal Adviser/Director General of Legal Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility of Ecuador for several terms, Legal Adviser of the Permanent Mission of Ecuador to the UN in New York, Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, Representative to the Organization of American States, and Permanent Representative of Ecuador to the UN Office in Geneva.
In all these positions he has participated in and presided over many bilateral and multilateral legal negotiations and high-level diplomatic dialogue in regional and international conferences on several of the most pressing global issues for the international community. He also contributed to the Peace Negotiations that resolved the border dispute between Ecuador and Peru, and negotiated the maritime delimitation agreement between Ecuador and Costa Rica. In addition, he has represented Ecuador in contentious and advisory proceedings before the International Court of Justice, and lectured and contributed to panels, and seminars in international law in several prestigious universities, and in regional courses organized by the UN and the OAS.
Dr. Vázquez-Bermúdez is the first Ecuadorian jurist to have been nominated as candidate for the ICJ, given the combination of his outstanding career as a scholar and practitioner of international law, his profound knowledge of world affairs, and his professionalism and integrity. All this makes him an exceptionally well-qualified candidate to serve in the Court with deep legal expertise, impartiality and independence.
I respectfully invite all UN Member States to support this candidature, confident that Dr. Marcelo Vázquez-Bermúdez will uphold the noble responsibilities of the Court in a spirit of institutional loyalty and contribute to the promotion of peace, justice, and the rule of international law.
Roberto Kury
Minister of Foreign Affairs
and Human Mobility
He is also making a major contribution to the clarification of the sources of international law as the Special Rapporteur for General Principles of Law.
He is one of the few Latin-American and Caribbean jurists ever appointed as a Special Rapporteur for a topic in the 77 years of the Commission.