Elizabeth Odio Benito facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elizabeth Odio Benito
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Odio Benito in 2018
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| Judge of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights | |
| In office 2016–2020 |
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| Nominated by | Costa Rica |
| Second Vice-President of the International Criminal Court | |
| In office 11 March 2003 – 10 March 2006 |
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| Succeeded by | René Blattmann |
| Judge of the International Criminal Court | |
| In office 11 March 2003 – 31 August 2012 |
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| 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
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| 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 |
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| Succeeded by | Adolphus Godwin Karibi-Whyte |
| Judge of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia | |
| In office 17 November 1993 – 16 November 1998 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 15 September 1939 Puntarenas, Costa Rica |
| Alma mater | University of Costa Rica University of Buenos Aires National University of Costa Rica |
Elizabeth Odio Benito, born on September 15, 1939, is a famous lawyer and politician from Costa Rica. She has held many important roles, including being the President of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. She also served as a Vice-President at the International Criminal Court and the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. In her home country, Costa Rica, she was the Minister of Justice twice and even became the Vice-President of the country. She is known for her work as a lawyer who focuses on how justice is managed and on human rights, especially the rights of women.
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Early Life and Education
Elizabeth Odio Benito was born in Puntarenas, Costa Rica. She spent most of her childhood in San José, where she went to the Colegio Superior de Señoritas. Her family had a tradition of working in law. Her uncle, Ulises Odio Santos, who was a lawyer, really encouraged her to study law too.
She earned her master's degree from the University of Costa Rica in 1964. She stayed at this university for most of her career as a teacher and researcher. She became a full professor in 1986. Later, in 1988, she became the Vice-President for Academic Affairs at the university. During this time, she started to study gender studies. This means she focused on understanding issues related to gender, especially crimes committed against women.
Political Career in Costa Rica
Elizabeth Odio Benito has had an important political career in her home country. From 1976 to 1978, she worked as the Secretary for the Colegio de Abogados, which is like the main group for lawyers in Costa Rica.
In 1978, she was chosen to be both the Minister of Justice and the Attorney General for Costa Rica. She held these jobs until 1982. She returned to serve as Minister of Justice again from 1990 to 1994.
The highest point of her political career in Costa Rica was in 1998. She was elected as the Second Vice-President of the country. At the same time, she also served as the Minister for the Environment and Energy.
Career in International Law
Elizabeth Odio Benito has also worked on important legal cases around the world.
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 deals with human rights cases in the Americas. She became the President of this court from 2018 to 2020. She was only the second woman ever to hold this very important position.
Judge of the International Criminal Court
She was also a judge at the International Criminal Court (ICC) from 2003 to 2012. The ICC is a court that tries people for serious international crimes. From 2003 to 2006, she was the Second Vice-President of the ICC.
Judge of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia
Before her time at the ICC, she was a judge at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY). She served there from 1993 to 1998. This court was set up to deal with serious crimes that happened during the wars in the former Yugoslavia. She was also the Vice-President of the ICTY from 1993 to 1995.
Awards
In 2002, Elizabeth Odio Benito was honored by being added to La Galería de las Mujeres de Costa Rica (The Costa Rican Gallery of Women). This award recognized her important work and contributions to human rights.
See also
In Spanish: Elizabeth Odio Benito para niños
