Cameroonian-born Leslie Forbang sworn in as Judge at UN appeals tribunal.

Cameroonian-born Leslie Forbang has been sworn in as a judge in the UN appeals tribunal.

He took the oath of office alongside six other titular judges before the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the headquarters of the United Nations in New York, United States of America.

Commissioning the judges into function, the UN scribe emphasized on separation of powers calling on the judges to be independent and impartial in the discharge of their duties.

Justice Leslie Forbang was elected in November 2022 and is expected to serve a term of office that will end in 2030.

Before his election into the UN appeals tribunal, Justice Leslie Forbang served as deputy attorney general of the South West Court of Appeal.

What is the UN Appeals Tribunal?

The United Nations Appeals Tribunal (UNAT), which replaces the former United Nations Administrative Tribunal, is an appellate court, of the two-tier formal system of administration of justice in the UN.

It was established by the UN General Assembly in December 2008 to review appeals against judgments rendered by the United Nations Dispute Tribunal (UNDT).

The tribunal, including its registry, is based in New York, and holds sessions in the same City, Geneva, and Nairobi, as required by caseload.

It held its first session in Geneva in 2010.

UNAT is a component of the UN’s Internal Justice System and is listed as an office, along with UNDT and the Office of the United Nations Ombudsman, under the UN secretariat.

It is dependent for its administrative, office, staffing, and travel needs including that of the judges, on the UN secretariat.

By David Atangana