Justice Chinara Aidarbekova – Kyrgyzstan
Chinara Aidarbekova was a judge of the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court from 2013 to 2020. From 2005 to 2007 she worked as a professor of the Kyrgyz State Law Academy. She is a Member of the Association “Lawyers of Kyrgyzstan”, the Kyrgyz Association of Women Judges and the International Association of Women Judges. She was formerly a consultant to the Legislative Assembly, a senior lecturer at the Centre for Magistracy, Postgraduate Studies and other national educational programmes of the Kyrgyz State Law Academy and a senior lawyer in the Ministry of Justice. She is currently serving her second term as an ICJ Commissioner.
Chinara Aidarbekova was a judge of the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court from 2013 to 2020. From 2005 to 2007 she worked as a professor of the Kyrgyz State Law Academy. She is a Member of the Association “Lawyers of Kyrgyzstan”, the Kyrgyz Association of Women Judges and the International Association of Women Judges. She was formerly a consultant to the Legislative Assembly, a senior lecturer at the Centre for Magistracy, Postgraduate Studies and other national educational programmes of the Kyrgyz State Law Academy and a senior lawyer in the Ministry of Justice. She is currently serving her second term as an ICJ Commissioner.
Justice Martine Comte – France
A second term Commissioner, Justice Martine Comte (France) has been a judge in France for more than 30 years, including having served as President of the Orléans Court of Appeal from 2011-2014. Prior to this her judicial career has been extensive and amongst other roles she has served as President of the Pontoise Tribunal of First Instance, President of the Bourgoin-Jallieu Court of First Instance and as Head of the Regional Administrative Department of Paris. She has also served as an Inspector of Judicial Services. Justice Comte is an Officer of the National Order of Merit and Knight of the Légion d’Honneur. In 2023, she was re-nominated to serve a second term as Alternate on the Executive Committee.
A second term Commissioner, Justice Martine Comte (France) has been a judge in France for more than 30 years, including having served as President of the Orléans Court of Appeal from 2011-2014. Prior to this her judicial career has been extensive and amongst other roles she has served as President of the Pontoise Tribunal of First Instance, President of the Bourgoin-Jallieu Court of First Instance and as Head of the Regional Administrative Department of Paris. She has also served as an Inspector of Judicial Services. Justice Comte is an Officer of the National Order of Merit and Knight of the Légion d’Honneur. In 2023, she was re-nominated to serve a second term as Alternate on the Executive Committee.
Ms Gulnora Ishankhanova – Uzbekistan
Gulnora Ishankhanova is currently serving her third term as Commissioner. She is currently heading the “Oila” NGO in Uzbekistan working on family and women’s rights in particular. Earlier she worked as legal expert with the Legal Problems Centre in Uzbekistan. A leading lawyer in Uzbekistan she served as Chair of the Tashkent City Branch of the Uzbek Bar Association from 2000 to 2008. In addition she served as a member and co-chair of the Uzbek Bar Qualification Committee, as an expert of the Parliamentary Committee on Legislation and Judiciary and as a member of the Public Expert Council of the Uzbek Ombudsman’s Office.
Gulnora Ishankhanova is currently serving her third term as Commissioner. She is currently heading the “Oila” NGO in Uzbekistan working on family and women’s rights in particular. Earlier she worked as legal expert with the Legal Problems Centre in Uzbekistan. A leading lawyer in Uzbekistan she served as Chair of the Tashkent City Branch of the Uzbek Bar Association from 2000 to 2008. In addition she served as a member and co-chair of the Uzbek Bar Qualification Committee, as an expert of the Parliamentary Committee on Legislation and Judiciary and as a member of the Public Expert Council of the Uzbek Ombudsman’s Office.
Ms Åsne Julsrud – Norway
Åsne Julsrud is a first-term Commissioner, having been elected in 2021, and currently serves as a Judge at the Oslo District Court of Norway. She graduated with a law degree from the University of Oslo in 1995. She also holds a Master of Laws from the University of Southampton where she focused on Human Rights and Civil Liberties. Thereafter, Ms. Julsrud went on to work at the Norwegian Institute on Human Rights under the University of Oslo, and she worked as at barrister for the Counsel of Oslo. From 2005, she has worked as a judge, both in Drammen and Oslo District Courts and in the High court of Hålogaland. From 2012 until 2013, she was one of the secretaries for the 22 of July Commission that investigated the terrorist attacks in Oslo and Utøya. From 2019 to 2021 she was secretary for a Commission in the Norwegian Parliament looking into the parliamentary control mechanisms of the Executive Government. Ms. Julsrud has been a board member of ICJ-Norway and is now in ICJ-Norway’s committee for Independence in the Judiciary and from 2017 to 2019, she was the chairperson of the board for the Norwegian National Human Rights Institution. Ms. Julsrud has been a member of the Human Rights Committee of the Norwegian Judges Association since 2005, is a member of the council of the Norwegian Helsinki committee and is also now a member of the board of the Norwegian Judges Association.
Åsne Julsrud is a first-term Commissioner, having been elected in 2021, and currently serves as a Judge at the Oslo District Court of Norway. She graduated with a law degree from the University of Oslo in 1995. She also holds a Master of Laws from the University of Southampton where she focused on Human Rights and Civil Liberties. Thereafter, Ms. Julsrud went on to work at the Norwegian Institute on Human Rights under the University of Oslo, and she worked as at barrister for the Counsel of Oslo. From 2005, she has worked as a judge, both in Drammen and Oslo District Courts and in the High court of Hålogaland. From 2012 until 2013, she was one of the secretaries for the 22 of July Commission that investigated the terrorist attacks in Oslo and Utøya. From 2019 to 2021 she was secretary for a Commission in the Norwegian Parliament looking into the parliamentary control mechanisms of the Executive Government. Ms. Julsrud has been a board member of ICJ-Norway and is now in ICJ-Norway’s committee for Independence in the Judiciary and from 2017 to 2019, she was the chairperson of the board for the Norwegian National Human Rights Institution. Ms. Julsrud has been a member of the Human Rights Committee of the Norwegian Judges Association since 2005, is a member of the council of the Norwegian Helsinki committee and is also now a member of the board of the Norwegian Judges Association.
Justice Tamara Morshchakova – Russia
Tamara Morshchakova is serving her third term as Commissioner, having been first elected in 2013 and re-elected in 2018. She is a former Judge of the Constitutional Court in Russia, serving in this position between 1991 and 2002. She is a Professor of law, an honorary lawyer and an honorary scholar of the Russian Federation and a recipient of many legal awards in Russia. Tamara Morshchakova specialises in several areas of law, in particular: the judiciary, criminal process, constitutional and judicial review, comparative jurisprudence and others. Tamara Morshchakova has a reputation in Russia as being a liberal and authoritative lawyer. She was an author of “Conception of the Judicial Reform of the Russian Federation”, which was adopted in 1991 after the break-up of the Soviet Union. She also served as a member of the Constitutional Council and the Working Commission on the development of the 1993 Constitution. She is a co-author of the laws On the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation, On the Status of Judges of the Russian Federation and the Law on Appeal in Court Against Actions, Decisions which Violate Rights and Freedoms of Citizens. Currently, Morshchakova is a member of the Scientific Consultative Council under the Supreme Court and Deputy Chair of the Council on Legislation Improvement. She works as the head of the Department of the Judicial and Organisation of Justice at a State University (High School of Economy) and is a member of the Council for Civil Society and Human Rights under the President of the Russian Federation. She is an author of more than 130 publications on the justice system, constitutionalism, constitutional rights, judiciary and the judicial procedure, criminal process, and rights in the process. She is also an active participant in public discussions on legal and constitutional reform and human rights issues in Russia.
Tamara Morshchakova is serving her third term as Commissioner, having been first elected in 2013 and re-elected in 2018. She is a former Judge of the Constitutional Court in Russia, serving in this position between 1991 and 2002. She is a Professor of law, an honorary lawyer and an honorary scholar of the Russian Federation and a recipient of many legal awards in Russia. Tamara Morshchakova specialises in several areas of law, in particular: the judiciary, criminal process, constitutional and judicial review, comparative jurisprudence and others. Tamara Morshchakova has a reputation in Russia as being a liberal and authoritative lawyer. She was an author of “Conception of the Judicial Reform of the Russian Federation”, which was adopted in 1991 after the break-up of the Soviet Union. She also served as a member of the Constitutional Council and the Working Commission on the development of the 1993 Constitution. She is a co-author of the laws On the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation, On the Status of Judges of the Russian Federation and the Law on Appeal in Court Against Actions, Decisions which Violate Rights and Freedoms of Citizens. Currently, Morshchakova is a member of the Scientific Consultative Council under the Supreme Court and Deputy Chair of the Council on Legislation Improvement. She works as the head of the Department of the Judicial and Organisation of Justice at a State University (High School of Economy) and is a member of the Council for Civil Society and Human Rights under the President of the Russian Federation. She is an author of more than 130 publications on the justice system, constitutionalism, constitutional rights, judiciary and the judicial procedure, criminal process, and rights in the process. She is also an active participant in public discussions on legal and constitutional reform and human rights issues in Russia.
Justice Egbert Myjer – Netherlands
Judge Myjer is serving his third term as a Commissioner, following his election in 2013. He served as a Judge of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg from November 2004 until October 2012and his term of office is due to tend in October 2013. He is an Emeritus Professor of Human Rights at the Free University of Amsterdam. Previously, Judge Myjer held the distinguished positions of Deputy Prosecutor-General/Chief Advocate General at the Court of Appeal, Amsterdam (1996-2004); Advocate-General of the Court of Appeal, The Hague (1991-1995); Vice-President of the District Court of Zutphen (1986-1991); and Judge of the District Court of Zutphen (1981-1986). Judge Myjer holds a Masters degree in Law from the University of Utrecht and has also served as Associate Professor of Criminal Law at the University of Leiden. Judge Myjer has written and contributed to over forty books, conference papers and commentaries; has co-edited several books including Human Rights Manual for Prosecutors (2003) and was a founding member of the editorial board for the Netherlands Humans Rights Law Review (NJCM-bulletin – 1976-2004). He is also a member of the board of Amnesty International the Netherlands, the UAF (Foundation for Refugee Students) and the International Service for Human Rights. In 2000, Judge Myjer was honoured as Officer in the Order of Orange-Nassau, for work undertaken in the Netherlands in the field of human rights, and in 2012 he was promoted to Commander. In 2001 he received the Medal of Merit of the Council of Europe, for his contribution to the human rights education for members of the Dutch Judiciary. In 2004 he was awarded with the Certificate of Merit of the International Association of Prosecutors. In 2012, he was made a n honourary benched of the Honourable Society of Lincolns Inn, United Kingdom.
Judge Myjer is serving his third term as a Commissioner, following his election in 2013. He served as a Judge of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg from November 2004 until October 2012and his term of office is due to tend in October 2013. He is an Emeritus Professor of Human Rights at the Free University of Amsterdam. Previously, Judge Myjer held the distinguished positions of Deputy Prosecutor-General/Chief Advocate General at the Court of Appeal, Amsterdam (1996-2004); Advocate-General of the Court of Appeal, The Hague (1991-1995); Vice-President of the District Court of Zutphen (1986-1991); and Judge of the District Court of Zutphen (1981-1986). Judge Myjer holds a Masters degree in Law from the University of Utrecht and has also served as Associate Professor of Criminal Law at the University of Leiden. Judge Myjer has written and contributed to over forty books, conference papers and commentaries; has co-edited several books including Human Rights Manual for Prosecutors (2003) and was a founding member of the editorial board for the Netherlands Humans Rights Law Review (NJCM-bulletin – 1976-2004). He is also a member of the board of Amnesty International the Netherlands, the UAF (Foundation for Refugee Students) and the International Service for Human Rights. In 2000, Judge Myjer was honoured as Officer in the Order of Orange-Nassau, for work undertaken in the Netherlands in the field of human rights, and in 2012 he was promoted to Commander. In 2001 he received the Medal of Merit of the Council of Europe, for his contribution to the human rights education for members of the Dutch Judiciary. In 2004 he was awarded with the Certificate of Merit of the International Association of Prosecutors. In 2012, he was made a n honourary benched of the Honourable Society of Lincolns Inn, United Kingdom.
Justice José Antonio Martín Pallín – Spain
José Antonio Martín Pallín is currently serving his third term as Commissioner following his election in 2008 and re-election in 2013 and 2018. He has been a member of the Spanish judiciary for more than forty years, and was a judge of Spain’s highest court for several years. He is currently an emeritus judge of that court. In 2006, he was the recipient of Spain’s National Human Rights Award. He is a member of the International Secretariat of Jurists for Amnesty and Democracy (Secretariado Internacional de Juristas por la Amnistía y la Democracia). He has participated in numerous missions on behalf of several organisations to Latin America and has taught law at several Spanish universities.
José Antonio Martín Pallín is currently serving his third term as Commissioner following his election in 2008 and re-election in 2013 and 2018. He has been a member of the Spanish judiciary for more than forty years, and was a judge of Spain’s highest court for several years. He is currently an emeritus judge of that court. In 2006, he was the recipient of Spain’s National Human Rights Award. He is a member of the International Secretariat of Jurists for Amnesty and Democracy (Secretariado Internacional de Juristas por la Amnistía y la Democracia). He has participated in numerous missions on behalf of several organisations to Latin America and has taught law at several Spanish universities.
Dr. Jarna Petman – Finland
Dr. Jarna Petman was first elected to the ICJ in 2013 and re-elected in 2018 and 2023. Dr. Jarna Petman is a Senior Lecturer (professor ad interim) in International Law at the University of Helsinki, and is Deputy Director of the University’s Erik Castrén Institute of International Law and Human Rights. Dr. Petman’s special fields of interest include: international law, international legal history, human rights, law governing the use of force, and legal theory. She has published a number of books and academic articles in these fields. Her current research interests include regionalism as a form of law-making in international law. Dr. Petman is Editor-in Chief of the Finnish Yearbook of International Law.
Dr. Jarna Petman was first elected to the ICJ in 2013 and re-elected in 2018 and 2023. Dr. Jarna Petman is a Senior Lecturer (professor ad interim) in International Law at the University of Helsinki, and is Deputy Director of the University’s Erik Castrén Institute of International Law and Human Rights. Dr. Petman’s special fields of interest include: international law, international legal history, human rights, law governing the use of force, and legal theory. She has published a number of books and academic articles in these fields. Her current research interests include regionalism as a form of law-making in international law. Dr. Petman is Editor-in Chief of the Finnish Yearbook of International Law.
Professor Marco Sassòli – Italy/Switzerland (Executive Committee Member)
Professor Marco Sassòli is currently serving his third term as Commissioner, having been elected in 2013. He was elected to become an Alternate Executive Committee member in 2014 and then re-elected in 2016 and 2018. Professor Marco Sassòli has worked at the Faculty of Law of the University of Geneva since 2004 and is currently the Director of the Department of Public International Law and International Organisation at the University. He is a former Executive Secretary of the ICJ, holding this position between 1998 and 1999. Between 2001 and 2003, Marco Sassòli was a Professor of International Law at the University of Quebec in Montreal (Canada), where he is now an Associate Professor.Marco Sassòli completed his law studies at the Universities of Basel and Neuchâtel. He wrote his doctoral thesis at the University of Basel, where he was also an Assistant. He was admitted to the Bar of the Canton of Basel-Stadt. He was clerk at the Swiss Supreme Court in Lausanne and worked for 13 years at ICRC (Geneva, Middle East and former Yugoslavia). Within the ICRC, he was Head of Delegation in Jordan and Syria, coordinating protection activities in the former Yugoslavia, and Deputy Head of the Legal Division in Geneva. For a brief period in 2011, he again worked as an ICRC delegate in Pakistan. Marco Sassòli chaired from 2004-2013 the Board of Trustees of Geneva Call; a neutral and impartial humanitarian organization dedicated to engaging armed non-State actors (NSAs) towards compliance with the norms of international humanitarian law (IHL) and human rights law (IHRL). Professor Sassòli is also regularly involved in the training of armed forces international humanitarian law.
Professor Marco Sassòli is currently serving his third term as Commissioner, having been elected in 2013. He was elected to become an Alternate Executive Committee member in 2014 and then re-elected in 2016 and 2018. Professor Marco Sassòli has worked at the Faculty of Law of the University of Geneva since 2004 and is currently the Director of the Department of Public International Law and International Organisation at the University. He is a former Executive Secretary of the ICJ, holding this position between 1998 and 1999. Between 2001 and 2003, Marco Sassòli was a Professor of International Law at the University of Quebec in Montreal (Canada), where he is now an Associate Professor.Marco Sassòli completed his law studies at the Universities of Basel and Neuchâtel. He wrote his doctoral thesis at the University of Basel, where he was also an Assistant. He was admitted to the Bar of the Canton of Basel-Stadt. He was clerk at the Swiss Supreme Court in Lausanne and worked for 13 years at ICRC (Geneva, Middle East and former Yugoslavia). Within the ICRC, he was Head of Delegation in Jordan and Syria, coordinating protection activities in the former Yugoslavia, and Deputy Head of the Legal Division in Geneva. For a brief period in 2011, he again worked as an ICRC delegate in Pakistan. Marco Sassòli chaired from 2004-2013 the Board of Trustees of Geneva Call; a neutral and impartial humanitarian organization dedicated to engaging armed non-State actors (NSAs) towards compliance with the norms of international humanitarian law (IHL) and human rights law (IHRL). Professor Sassòli is also regularly involved in the training of armed forces international humanitarian law.
Justice Philippe Texier – France
Phillipe Texier is serving his third term as Commissioner, he was elected in 2008 and re-elected in 2013 and 2018. He was a Member of the Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee between 1987 and 2012 and was its president from 2007 – 2008. Until May 2009 he was judge of the French Cour de Cassation, social division. He was also an independent expert of the UN Commission in Haiti and managed the Human Rights Division – ONUSAL (UN Mission in El Salvador), when the peace agreement was signed. He has been a member of the French Advisory Commission on Human Rights since 1984. In addition to his multiple assignments as an adviser to the French government, Philippe Texier has been involved in numerous human rights missions in South America, Central America, Africa and Asia, as a consultant of the United Nations Centre for Human Rights or on behalf of non-governmental organizations. Since its election on the Commission in 2008, he has been actively supporting the work of the ICJ, especially by participating in missions to various Latin American, Middle East and North African countries. Philippe Texier is a visiting scholar at the American University, Washington College of Law and has been participating in various collective publications.
Phillipe Texier is serving his third term as Commissioner, he was elected in 2008 and re-elected in 2013 and 2018. He was a Member of the Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee between 1987 and 2012 and was its president from 2007 – 2008. Until May 2009 he was judge of the French Cour de Cassation, social division. He was also an independent expert of the UN Commission in Haiti and managed the Human Rights Division – ONUSAL (UN Mission in El Salvador), when the peace agreement was signed. He has been a member of the French Advisory Commission on Human Rights since 1984. In addition to his multiple assignments as an adviser to the French government, Philippe Texier has been involved in numerous human rights missions in South America, Central America, Africa and Asia, as a consultant of the United Nations Centre for Human Rights or on behalf of non-governmental organizations. Since its election on the Commission in 2008, he has been actively supporting the work of the ICJ, especially by participating in missions to various Latin American, Middle East and North African countries. Philippe Texier is a visiting scholar at the American University, Washington College of Law and has been participating in various collective publications.
Justice Stefan Trechsel – Switzerland
Justice Stefan Trechsel is currently serving his third term as Commissioner, having been elected in 2013. He was elected to become an Alternate Executive Committee Member in 2014 and re-elected in 2016 and 2018. Judge Stefan Trechsel was an ad litem Judge at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia from April 2006 to June 2013. He is a Professor Emeritus of Criminal Law and Procedure at the University of Zurich. He was elected to the European Commission of Human Rights in 1975, later becoming its Vice-President (1987 to 1994) and President (1995 to 1999). He acted as counsel for the United States before the International Court of Justice in the LaGrand Case (Germany v. United States of America). Judge Trechsel served as an independent expert of the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe on the issue of political prisoners in Azerbaijan. From 1971 to 1975, he held several positions in Bern as an investigating judge, ad hoc judge to military courts, district attorney, and defence counsel. Judge Trechsel is the author of 6 books in English and German and of approximately 100 articles in law journals in German, English, French, Portuguese and Italian. Of particular note among his many publications is his recently published book entitled Human Rights in Criminal Proceedings. Judge Trechsel obtained a degree in law (1963) and a PhD (1966) from the University of Bern, where he became a “Privatdozent” (associate professor) in 1972.
Justice Stefan Trechsel is currently serving his third term as Commissioner, having been elected in 2013. He was elected to become an Alternate Executive Committee Member in 2014 and re-elected in 2016 and 2018. Judge Stefan Trechsel was an ad litem Judge at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia from April 2006 to June 2013. He is a Professor Emeritus of Criminal Law and Procedure at the University of Zurich. He was elected to the European Commission of Human Rights in 1975, later becoming its Vice-President (1987 to 1994) and President (1995 to 1999). He acted as counsel for the United States before the International Court of Justice in the LaGrand Case (Germany v. United States of America). Judge Trechsel served as an independent expert of the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe on the issue of political prisoners in Azerbaijan. From 1971 to 1975, he held several positions in Bern as an investigating judge, ad hoc judge to military courts, district attorney, and defence counsel. Judge Trechsel is the author of 6 books in English and German and of approximately 100 articles in law journals in German, English, French, Portuguese and Italian. Of particular note among his many publications is his recently published book entitled Human Rights in Criminal Proceedings. Judge Trechsel obtained a degree in law (1963) and a PhD (1966) from the University of Bern, where he became a “Privatdozent” (associate professor) in 1972.