Joan Donoghue
 Joan Donoghue    (lawyer, spook) | ||||||||||
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| Born | 12 December 1957 | |||||||||
| Member of | Covington & Burling | |||||||||
A life-long US State Department apparatchik
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Joan E. Donoghue is an American lawyer, international legal scholar, former US State Department official, and the current President of the International Court of Justice (ICJ). She was first elected to the Court in 2010, re-elected in 2014, and elected 26th President of the ICJ on 8 February 2021, succeeding Abdulqawi Yusuf, for a term of three years.
Joan Donoghue is the third woman to be elected to the ICJ and the first American woman elected as President of the ICJ.[1]
Syria
In November 2023, Joan Donoghue ordered the Syrian government to “take all measures within its power to prevent acts of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”
The ICJ further called on Syria to “ensure that its officials, as well as any organisations or persons, may be subject to its control, direction or influence do not commit any acts of torture or other acts of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”[2]
Israel
On 29 December 2023, South Africa filed an application instituting proceedings against Israel before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) concerning alleged violations by Israel of its obligations under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (the "Genocide Convention") in relation to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.[3]
Israeli officials were concerned lest the World Court rule in favour of South Africa.[4]
Their concerns were echoed by Professor of International Law at Illinois State University, Francis Boyle who, in an interview on 2 January 2024 with Democracy Now, said:
- "I believe South Africa will win an order against Israel to cease and desist from committing all acts of genocide against the Palestinians.
- "Israel has a history of listening to the United States' orders to stop its assaults on the Occupied Palestinian Territory. We here in the United States of America have the power to stop this."
Asked what power Joan Donoghue has to shape proceedings, Prof. Boyle said:
- "That's a good question. Donoghue is a life-long State Department apparatchik which is how she got the job. And I'm sure she's in contact right now today with the US State Department giving them a 'heads up' on everything going on at The Hague behind the scenes. She will toe the State Dept line in these proceedings.
- "I regret to report the president does have a lot of power there to shape these proceedings in favour of Israel.
- "However I have also been advised that the Republic of South Africa is nominating a Judge ad hoc that is their right under the Statute of the ICJ. I don't have a name yet but I would hope that the South African Judge ad hoc will do his or her best to try to keep Donoghue straight."[5]
References
- ↑ "The Nomination of Joan E. Donoghue to the International Court of Justice"
- ↑ "UN court orders Syria regime to prevent torture, preserve evidence"
- ↑ Document:South Africa institutes Genocide Convention proceedings against Israel
- ↑ "State Officials Fear International Court of Justice Could Charge Israel With Genocide in Gaza"
- ↑ "South Africa Files Case Against Israel at International Court of Justice over 'Genocidal' Gaza War"
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