OAS ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL SWEARS IN NEW JUDGE
Alma Montenegro de
Fletcher of Panama was sworn in today as a new judge on the Administrative
Tribunal of the Organization of American States (OAS). She was elected at
the OAS General Assembly in Chile last June, the second woman to be a judge
on the Tribunal since it was established.
Speaking at the
swearing-in, she said she believes that, “as a legal instrument, not only
should the law be used to settle conflicts and disputes but it should also
seek out the common good.”
Montenegro de Fletcher
went on to state that “as an attorney and judge, I have sought to reconcile
the law with justice.” She further expressed the hope that everyone
committed to applying and interpreting the rules of law “would bear this in
mind” when seeking to convince society that proper application of the law
can bring about equity and justice.
The President of the
Administrative Tribunal, Lionel Alain Dupuis of Canada, welcomed Alma
Montenegro de Fletcher and expressed best wishes as she embarks on her new
functions. Among those in attendance at the swearing-in ceremony were Judge
Agustín Gordillo; OAS Assistant Secretary for Legal Affairs Enrique Lagos;
Tribunal Secretary Reinaldo Rodríguez; and OAS Staff Association President
René L. Gutiérrez.
An independent organ of
the OAS, the Administrative Tribunal was established by the General
Assembly in 1971 to settle disputes involving General Secretariat staff
members. It hears job-related cases, including retirement and pension plan
matters.
The Tribunal comprises six
members who are elected by the General Assembly to six-year terms and may
be re-elected once.
[Source: Press Release (E-084-04) -
Department of Public Information]
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