Austrian jurist elected new head of UN-backed tribunal in Sierra Leone
29 May 2008 - An experienced Austrian judge has been chosen as the new President of the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL), the
United Nations-backed war crimes tribunal set up to deal with the worst abuses during the long civil war in the West
African country.
Justice Renate Winter was elected to a one-year term as the Presiding Judge of the appeals chamber, a post which
automatically makes her the Court's President as well, the SCSL said today in a press statement from the capital,
Freetown.
Effective tomorrow, Justice Winter - who joined the SCSL in 2002 - succeeds Justice George Gelaga-King of Sierra Leone,
who has served as President since 2006. She has also previously served as an international judge of the Supreme Court of
Kosovo, as part of the UN interim civilian administration there.
The new President, who currently heads the International Association of Youth and Family Court Judges, has an extensive
background in family law, juvenile justice systems, women's justice issues, child labour and the role of the media in
advocacy.
She has also worked for the UN on projects relating to youth and child soldiers, as well as issues of restorative
justice and organized crime.
ENDS