Phoebe Okowa, the Kenyan legal expert representing Namibia in Israel genocide case
Professor Phoebe Okowa is a renowned international lawyer and academic whose appointment by the Namibian government has been praised by many.
As the International Court of Justice (ICJ) heard the Namibia vs. Israel genocide case on Friday, a Kenyan legal expert made headlines for her role in representing Namibia.
Professor Phoebe Okowa is a renowned international lawyer and academic whose appointment by the Namibian government has been praised by many.
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While some have questioned the appointment of a foreign legal counsel, others have hailed Okowa's expertise and experience at the international court located in The Hague, Netherlands.
Namibia's Justice Ministry Executive Director Gladice Pickering defended the appointment, citing Okowa's impressive academic qualifications and prior experience at the ICJ.
“It may not be entirely accurate to say that local counsels were dismissed. We needed to get an expert in public international law, and that person has experience at the ICJ. We do not have the person in Namibia meeting both criteria," she said.
Namibia has joined 51 other countries in a case regarding the legal implications of Israel’s occupation of Gaza and East Jerusalem.
On Friday, Okowa presented a legal argument before the ICJ against Israel's occupation of Palestinian lands, emphasising that Israel's occupation is illegal and that the court has previously prohibited the annexation of lands through occupation.
She further noted that Israeli activities in Palestine violate basic human rights conventions and principles of international law, stating that "Israel's policies and practices in the occupied Palestinian territory grossly violate its obligations under international law."
Okowa urged the court to recognise that the prohibition of apartheid extends beyond Southern Africa and applies to Israel's policies in the occupied Palestinian territory today.
Friday marked the fifth day of hearings at the ICJ, requested by the United Nations General Assembly, with sessions concluding on Monday.
Okowa's journey to the ICJ is a remarkable one. Born in Kenya, she graduated top of her class with a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Nairobi before proceeding to the University of Oxford for her Bachelor of Civil Law degree and later completing her doctoral studies.
She has achieved several milestones in her academic and legal career, such as teaching at the University of Bristol, holding visiting appointments at several institutions, including New York University, and lecturing for the United Nations.
Her expertise in public international law, international criminal law, and human rights law has earned her recognition and praise, and her appointment to represent Namibia at the ICJ is significant not only for her expertise but also for the historical precedent it sets.
As the first African woman to serve on the International Law Commission and the first Kenyan legal expert to represent a country at the ICJ, Okowa's leadership and expertise will be crucial in presenting Namibia's case.
Her impressive track record as counsel at the ICJ includes: counsel in The Gambia v. Myanmar (Merits, 2020-2021) regarding the application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide Crimes; consultation in Somalia v. Kenya (Merits, 2019-2021) regarding maritime delimitation in the Indian Ocean; and counsel and Advocate in The Gambia v. aMyanmar (Provisional Measures, December 2019) regarding the Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide
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