By Our Staff
Ex Deputy Chief Justice Richard Butera has been elected as a judge of the United Nations Appeals Tribunal in New York City.
The United Nations Appeals Tribunal is the second-level appellate body for internal justice disputes within the UN system, based at the UN Headquarters in New York City. It handles appeals against decisions made by the UN Dispute Tribunal (UNDT) and the United Nayions Joint Staff Pension Board. While its headquarters are in New York, the tribunal holds sessions in other locations like Geneva and Nairobi as needed, based on the caseload.
The election, held on Monday, saw Butera secure 110 votes, demonstrating strong international confidence in his judicial expertise. He was elected alongside LingLing Zang of China, who also garnered significant support.
The UN Appeals Tribunal is a key judicial body responsible for handling internal disputes and appeals within the United Nations system, ensuring fairness and accountability in the organization’s administrative processes.
Butera, a veteran jurist with decades of experience in Uganda’s judiciary, now joins a select group of international judges tasked with upholding justice at the highest level of the UN system.
His election is regarded as a major milestone for Uganda, showcasing the country’s growing influence inglobal legal affairs.
Richard Buteera, also Richard Butera, is a Ugandan lawyer and judge who has served as a member of the Supreme Court of Uganda since September 2017.
The UN Appeals Tribunal (UNAT) was established by the General Assembly in 2009, as part of the new UN internal justice system. As the second level appellate review tribunal within the internal justice system, UNAT reviews, within its specific jurisdiction, appeals against judgments rendered by the UN Dispute Tribunal, the Dispute Tribunal of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), as well as appeals of decisions taken by the Standing Committee acting on behalf of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board (UNJSPB), and by those organizations, agencies and entities that accepted UNAT’s jurisdiction.
UNAT usually meets in session three times a year, in spring, summer and fall sessions, to render judgments. The sessions are held in New York, Nairobi, or Geneva (at times at other locations). UNAT consists of seven judge positions. The UNAT President usually designates three judge panels to decide each case. However, under certain circumstances a case may be heard by the entire UNAT bench. UNAT judgments are final and binding on the parties.