J. Uduch Sengebau Senior (born 1965,[citation needed] Ngerbeched, Koror, Palau[citation needed]) is a Palauan lawyer, judge, and politician who has served as the Vice President of Palau since 2021. She was previously a member of the Senate of Palau from 2013 until she took office as Vice President.[2]
J. Uduch Sengebau Senior | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2021 | |
| 10th Vice President of Palau | |
| Assumed office 21 January 2021 | |
| President | Surangel Whipps Jr. |
| Preceded by | Raynold Oilouch |
| Justice Minister of Palau | |
| Assumed office 21 July 2021 | |
| President | Surangel Whipps Jr. |
| Preceded by | Raynold Oilouch |
| Minister of State of Palau | |
| In office 21 January 2021 – 21 July 2021 | |
| President | Surangel Whipps Jr. |
| Preceded by | Faustina K. Rehuher-Marugg |
| Succeeded by | Gustav N. Aitaro |
| Senator 9th and 10th OEK Senate of Palau | |
| In office January 2013 – 21 January 2021 | |
| Senior Judge Palau Land Court | |
| In office 2003–2007 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1965 (age 58–59) [citation needed] Ngerbeched, Koror, Palau[citation needed] |
| Political party | Independent |
| Spouse | Jerome Senior[1] |
| Children | 4[1] |
| Alma mater | University of Hawaiʻi[1] |
Senior attended a Catholic primary school in Palau before receiving her high school education in Waiakea High School, Hawaii, from where she graduated in 1983.[1] She subsequently studied at the University of Hawaiʻi, receiving a Bachelor of Arts and then graduating from the William S. Richardson School of Law with a Juris Doctor degree in 1993. She returned to work in Palau as a staff attorney of the Micronesian Legal Services Corporation, and also worked as an assistant attorney general, an associate judge of the Land Court and an associate justice pro tem of the appellate division of the Supreme Court of Palau. She was senior judge of the Land Court from 2003 until her resignation in 2007. Senior then worked as a lawyer in private practice until her election to parliament.[2][3]
She was first elected to the Senate at the 2012 election.[4] In her first term, she introduced a bill mandating maternity leave and banning discrimination against pregnant women, and advocated for gender equality in public office.[5][6] She also established a non-government organisation, Centre for Women’s Empowerment Palau, to support women in leadership positions.[2] She was re-elected at the 2016 election.[7] She was formerly the Chairperson of the Senate Judiciary & Governmental Affairs Committee, but resigned in July 2017.[8][9]
In addition to the portfolio of Vice President of Palau since January 2021, she was assigned as Minister of State, and was reassigned in July 2021 as Justice Minister of Palau.[10]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "VOTE MS. J. UDUCH SENGEBAU SENIOR FOR SENATOR 2012". Palau 2012. 30 June 2012.
- ^ a b c "Palauan Senator encourages women's economic independence". Pacific Women. Archived from the original on 21 January 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
- ^ "Senator to meet with Palauans on Saipan". Marianas Variety. 7 October 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
- ^ "REPUBLIC OF PALU LEGISLATIVE ELECTION OF 6 NOVEMBER 2012". Psephos. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
- ^ "Palauan women break the political glass ceiling". Pacific Island Times. 7 December 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
- ^ "Rapid Health Impact Assessment of the Maternity Leave Bill (S.B. 9-20-SD2)" (PDF). Health Impact Assessment Working Group. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
- ^ "REPUBLIC OF PALU LEGISLATIVE ELECTION OF 1 NOVEMBER 2016". Psephos. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
- ^ "Advisors". International Women's Peace Group. Archived from the original on 14 January 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
- ^ "Sen. Uduch Senior resigns from Senate committee memberships". Island Times. 21 July 2017. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
- ^ Reklai, Leilani (23 July 2021). "VP Uduch Senior re-assigned to Ministry of Justice from Ministry of State". Island Times.