Fijian international lawyer Ana Tuiketei has made history by being appointed President of the Defence Committee of the International Criminal Court Bar Association (ICCBA), marking a significant milestone for the Pacific region. This prestigious position underscores her commitment to advocating for the rights and interests of suspects and accused persons before the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The Defence Committee, which Tuiketei will lead, plays a crucial role in providing expert guidance to the ICCBA’s Legal Advisory Committee, Executive Council, and General Assembly on critical issues concerning defense representation and fair trial rights. Tuiketei’s extensive experience includes serving on the ICCBA’s Defence, Victims, and Membership Committees, along with being the first Pacific Counsel accredited with both the ICC and the Kosovo Specialist Chambers.
An accomplished professional, Tuiketei is also distinguished as the only female Pacific Islander accredited as an arbitrator with various esteemed global institutions, including the Court of Arbitration for Sport and the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre. Her contributions extend to serving as a South Pacific Task Force Member for the Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration and as the Deputy Director of the Institute of Small and Microstates in the UK. Moreover, she is a member of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Independent Ethics Committee and dedicates her time to the Save the Children Boards in Fiji and Australia.
Recognized for her significant contributions to her nation, Tuiketei received the Medal of the Order of Fiji from the President in 2017. She holds multiple degrees and professional qualifications from institutions across Fiji, the UK, the US, and Switzerland, and is currently pursuing her PhD.
Tuiketei’s appointment is a beacon of hope for the Pacific region, showcasing the power of representation and the remarkable capabilities of women in leadership roles within the global legal arena. Her leadership is expected to inspire others in the field of law, reinforcing a commitment to ethical governance, fairness, and justice on both national and international stages. The advancements within Fiji’s legal landscape, as seen with Tuiketei and her contemporaries leading key institutions, signal a progressive shift toward strengthening the integrity and transparency of legal processes in the region.