A hall dedicated to honor the memory of the first and only Filipino judge in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has been inaugurated at the Philippines Embassy in The Hague.
The Judge Cesar Bengzon Hall was opened on Tuesday, July 19, in a ceremony attended by the ICJ Vice President, four other ICJ judges, and other international legal luminaries, diplomats and Filipino community members.
Bengzon served a full nine year-term at the World Court from 1967 to 1976. His experience "provided a different perspective to the members of the ICJ and gave added flavor to the work of the Court and the development of international law," ICJ Vice President Kirill Gevorgian said in his speech.
"Judge Bengzon made significant contributions to the work of the Court and to the development of international law... He contributed to a number of seminal judgments and advisory opinions that have become crucial to the protection of human rights around the world," he added.
Gevorgian, who met Bengzon in Moscow in the 70s while he was delivering his lecture on the protection of human rights, said the Judge was a "staunch defender of human rights."
On the other hand, Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo, in a video message, lauded Bengzon's contribution to the Philippine legal profession and described it as "blazing the trail for Filipino jurists and lawyers alike to enter and serve in the world’s highest courts and tribunals."
"Als er één schaap over de dam is, volgen er meer (if one sheep crosses the dam, more will follow)," Gesmundo said, alluding to a Dutch saying.
"Bengzon’s ‘appointment to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) capped a brilliant career in the service of his fellow men and women.... This honor given by the Philippine Embassy is but a fitting tribute to a man who is an epitome of integrity and excellence, a Philippine magistrate who had made waves throughout the world," the Chief Justice said.
During the ceremony, two other highly-acclaimed Filipino jurists were honored. They were Justice Florentino Feliciano, former Senior Associate Justice of the Supreme Court and founding Member and then President of the Appellate Body of the World Trade Organization (1995 to 2001); and Dean Raul C. Pangalangan, Judge of the International Criminal Court (ICC) (2015 to 2021).