Elizabeth Odio Benito facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Elizabeth Odio Benito
Odio Benito in 2018
Judge of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights
In office 2016–2020
Nominated by	Costa Rica
Second Vice-President of the International Criminal Court
In office 11 March 2003 – 10 March 2006
Appointed by	Judges of the ICC
Succeeded by	René Blattmann
Judge of the International Criminal Court
In office 11 March 2003 – 31 August 2012
Nominated by	Panama
Appointed by	Assembly of States Parties
Second Vice-President of Costa Rica
In office 8 May 1998 – 8 May 2002 Serving with Astrid Fischel
President	Miguel Ángel Rodríguez
Preceded by	Rebeca Grynspan
Succeeded by	Luis Fishman
Vice-President of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
In office November 1993 – November 1995
Succeeded by	Adolphus Godwin Karibi-Whyte []
Judge of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
In office 17 November 1993 – 16 November 1998
Personal details
Born	(1939-09-15) 15 September 1939 (age 85) Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Alma mater	University of Costa Rica University of Buenos Aires National University of Costa Rica

Elizabeth Odio Benito (born September 15, 1939) is a famous lawyer and politician from Costa Rica. She is known for her work in protecting human rights, especially the rights of women. She has held many important jobs, including serving as a judge and president of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.

Odio Benito was also a Vice-President of the International Criminal Court and the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. In her home country, she was the Minister of Justice twice and later became the Second Vice-President of Costa Rica. She started her career as a university professor, focusing on law and justice.

Early Life and Education

Elizabeth Odio Benito was born in Puntarenas, Costa Rica. She was the first child of Emiliano Odio Madrigal and Esperanza Benito Ibañez. She spent most of her childhood in the city of San José.

Many people in her father's family were lawyers. Her uncle, Ulises Odio Santos, encouraged her to study law. She earned her degree from the University of Costa Rica in 1964. She later became a professor at the same university. During this time, she became an expert on crimes against women.

Political Career in Costa Rica

Odio Benito's political career began in the 1970s. From 1978 to 1982, she was appointed as the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Costa Rica. An attorney general is the top lawyer and law enforcement officer for the government.

In 1990, she became the Minister of Justice again for four more years. Her most important political role in Costa Rica came in 1998. She was elected Second Vice-President, serving with President Miguel Ángel Rodríguez. During her time as vice-president, she was also the Minister for the Environment and Energy.

Career in International Law

Elizabeth Odio Benito is very well known for her work as a judge in international courts. These courts handle very serious crimes that affect people all over the world.

Judge for the former Yugoslavia (1993–1998)

In 1993, Odio Benito became a judge for the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. This court was created to deal with war crimes that happened during a conflict in a region of Europe called the former Yugoslavia.

One of her most important achievements as a judge was to make sure that certain types of violence against women were recognized as very serious crimes, equal to torture. Her work on a case involving the mistreatment of two women in the Čelebići detention camp helped change international law. Today, her view is an accepted rule in courts around the world.

Working with the United Nations

After leaving the tribunal in 1998, Odio Benito continued to work on important legal projects. She led a United Nations group that created a special agreement called the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture.

This agreement allows experts to visit prisons and detention centers. They can talk privately with people being held there to make sure they are not being tortured or mistreated. This helps protect the rights of prisoners everywhere.

Judge of the International Criminal Court (2003–2012)

In 2003, Odio Benito was elected as one of the first judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The ICC is a permanent court that investigates and tries individuals for the most serious crimes, like war crimes. She was elected as the court's Second Vice-President.

Her election was supported by many women's groups. Even though her own country did not nominate her at first, the country of Panama did. She was elected in the very first round of voting, which showed she had strong support from many countries.

The Thomas Lubanga Case

While at the ICC, Odio Benito was a judge in the case of Thomas Lubanga, a warlord from the Congo. In 2012, the court found Lubanga guilty of using child soldiers in his army. This was the first time the ICC had ever sentenced someone.

The other two judges decided on a 14-year prison sentence. However, Odio Benito wrote a dissenting opinion, which is a separate view from the other judges. She believed the sentence should have been 15 years because of the great harm done to the young victims and their families.

Judge of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights

From 2016 to 2020, Odio Benito served as a judge on the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. This court protects human rights in North and South America. From 2018 to 2020, she was the President of the Court, becoming only the second woman to ever hold that job.

Awards and Recognition

In 2002, Elizabeth Odio Benito was honored by being included in La Galería de las Mujeres de Costa Rica (The Costa Rican Gallery of Women). This award recognized her important work in protecting human rights.

See also

In Spanish: Elizabeth Odio Benito para niños