ABSTRACT
This chapter is a personal reflection on the life and journey of Justice Florence Ndepele Mwachande Mumba. The chapter traces her life growing up in Zambia, attaining a legal education and becoming the first woman High Court Judge in Zambia. In 1997, Judge Mumba was elected to the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. She served as a Trial Judge for six years. She presided over the Prosecutor v. Anto Furundzija, IT-95-17/1; the Prosecutor v. Kunarac et al., IT-96-23-T; and the Prosecutor v. Simic et al. IT-95-9/T. Convictions in these cases included torture as a violation of laws or customs of war, outrages upon human dignity, rape as torture, enslavement, and crimes against humanity for persecution, cruel and inhumane treatment, and beatings. These were among the first convictions for ICTY where rape and sexual violence were pronounced as crimes against humanity, war crimes, and torture. Judge Mumba presided over two guilty pleas, the Prosecutor v. Drazen Erdemovic, IT-96-22 and the Prosecutor v. Milan Simic, IT-95-9/2. Judge Mumba’s view is that international crime trials must be held in the territories where atrocities were committed for the benefit of indicted persons and the community. Statutory provisions for gender balance in international courts and tribunals are essential.
