FIRST FOR FIJI
Legal practitioner Ana Tuiketei has become the first Fijian to be listed in the International Criminal Court (ICC) registry of counsels.
In a letter addressed to Ms Tuiketei, the International Criminal
Court said she had met the qualifications necessary to be included in the list.
It is created and maintained by the ICC registry of counsel who are eligible for appointment and who may be appointed to represent suspects, accused or victims in the future. Ms Tuiketei was ecstatic when she received her admission letter.
“The ICC stands for justice at the
highest level and it is something that I deeply believe in. Through justice, peace can be attained,” she said.
“I made an application to be admitted into the ICC registry because justice is something I have been advocating since being admitted to the bar.” The former Adi Cakobau School head girl grew up with women who were champions and led the way.
Her mother Timaima Tuiketei is a medical doctor, who was a gold medalist. And her grandmother, Nanise, a teacher was an extraordinary woman as well.
Ms Nanise’s story is something Ms Tuiketei grew up listening to.
“This was during the world war when Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna was part of the Government. All Fijians from the islands studying in Suva had been ordered to go back to their islands,” she said.
“Nanise’s father, my great grandfather had come from Gau to pick her, when she said she wanted to continue her study and it required a letter from Ratu Sukuna.
“So the two of them made their way to Ratu Sukuna’s residence. Traditional protocols were tough, but they managed to see Ratu Sukuna and when my great-grandfather was asked as to why he wanted to see Ratu Sukuna, he said it was Nanise who had sought him.”
Ms Tuiketei said it was uncommon among women in those days to make such an approach, but her courage and grit to become a teacher, had the Statesman himself approving her staying back in Suva to pursue her studies.
When Ms Tuiketei was awarded the Order of Fiji medal in 2017, she attributed it to her grandparents and father, Ilaitia Tuiketei.
As a lawyer, who has worked for the State prosecution, a legal consultant with former High Court Judge Nazhat Shameem and working in the United Kingdom, she believes getting registered as a defence counsel in the ICC registry is the highlight of her career.
What is the ICC
The International Criminal Court (“the ICC” or “the Court”) in The Hague is a permanent international court established to investigate, prosecute and try individuals accused of committing the most serious crimes of concern to the international community as a whole, namely the crime of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression.