Uma Sekhar of India secured a significant victory by being elected to the Governing Council of the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT) during a competitive election featuring 32 candidates from various countries, including the US, China, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and France, according to sources on Thursday.
UNIDROIT, an independent intergovernmental organization, focuses on addressing diverse legal issues, including the examination of requirements and methods for updating commercial and private laws.
Government insiders lauded Uma Sekhar’s win as “historic,” emphasizing that she became the first Indian woman to secure a position on the UNIDROIT Governing Council. The sources revealed that she obtained an impressive 45 votes out of 59 in the initial round of elections held in Rome.
Sources indicated that a minimum of 21 votes was needed to secure a position on the Governing Council, and Uma Sekhar’s successful election means India will be represented on the council for the 2024-28 term.
The Governing Council comprises 25 positions held by distinguished legal experts. The election, featuring 32 contestants, witnessed participation from countries such as the US, China, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and France. Notably, candidates from Russia, the US, and China were unsuccessful in securing positions on the Governing Council.
UNIDROIT’s primary objective is to analyze the necessities and methods for modernizing, harmonizing, and coordinating private, especially commercial, law among states and groups of states. The organization aims to formulate uniform legal instruments, principles, and rules to achieve these objectives.