Judge Khalida Rachid Khan (Pakistan) was sworn-in during a ceremony held in Arusha today. She was appointed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Kofi Annan, on 7 July 2003. The ceremony was administred by the President of the Tribunal Judge Erik Møse, and witnessed by the Deputy Registrar of the Tribunal, Mr. Lovemore Munlo, on behalf of the Registrar, Mr Adama Dieng. Judges of the Trial Chambers attended the ceremony.

Judge Rachid Khan becomes the forth woman judge out of fourteen permanent judges of the Tribunal. The other three women judges are Judge Andrésia Vaz (Senegal), Judge Arlette Ramaroson (Madagascar) and Judge Inés Mónica Weinberg de Roca (Argentina).

Judge Rachid Khan was born on 25 September 1949. She began her career in 1974 as a civil judge in Peshawar, Pakistan. In 1978, she was promoted as senior civil judge in Peshawar. From 1981 to 1982 she worked as special judge in anti-corruption and special judge in anti-smuggling, customs and taxation Peshawar and Hazara Division. She was later appointed Deputy Secretary in the Law Department of the Government of NWFP (North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan). In 1994, Judge Rachid Khan was elevated to the High Court of Peshawar, becoming the first Pakistani woman ever appointed to that position. She was also the first woman in Pakistan to be appointed as District and Sessions Judge.

Judge Rachid Khan obtained a Master’s degree in Law in 1969 and a M.A. in Political sciences in 1973. She has also participated in a wide range of international conferences, meetings and forums. She is a member of the International Association of Women Judges, USA. Judge Rachid Khan has worked extensively to eradicate Child Labour in Pakistan and South Asia.