A former Columbia University fellow, who is currently serving as a judge at the United Nations, has been found guilty of horrific crimes, including forcing a young woman into slavery. The shocking case has sparked international outrage, as the individual, once lauded for her esteemed academic and legal positions, is now facing serious legal consequences for her actions.
A British jury convicted United Nations Judge Lydia Mugambe for forcing a Ugandan woman into domestic servitude after luring her to the U.K. under false pretenses and "requiring a person to perform force or compulsory labor.” She was found guilty on four charges, including forced labor, an immigration offense and conspiracy to intimidate a witness.
The irony? She has written extensively about human rights.
In a statement from Thames Valley Police, it was revealed that Mugambe lured the victim to the United Kingdom by promising her a job in a diplomatic household. She paid for the woman’s plane ticket and picked her up from the airport. Once she successfully got the victim to the UK, Mugambe forced the woman to work as an unpaid maid and nanny. She stole her phone, passport, and visa, making it impossible for the woman to escape. It wasn’t until the woman found a way to reach a friend who notified the authorities.
“Lydia Mugambe used her position to exploit a vulnerable young woman, controlling her freedom and making her work without payment,” Eran Clutliffe, an attorney for the Crown Prosecution Service’s Special Crime Division, said. “Modern slavery and the exploitation of people by others for their own purposes has no place in modern society."
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The 49-year-old woman of African descent, who was previously a judge on the High Court of Uganda, was also a member of several prominent professional organizations, including the Oxford Human Rights Hub and the International Association of Women Judges. She also previously won the Vera Chirwa human rights award from the University of Pretoria, South Africa, for "ensuring gender-based justice in Africa."
