Elsa Kelly
{{Short description|Argentine lawyer and diplomat (born 1939)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Elsa Kelly
| image = Elsa Kelly (cropped).jpg
| birth_name = Elsa Rosa Diana Kelly
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1939|02|28|df=y}}
| birth_place = Buenos Aires, Argentina
| occupation = {{UBL| Diplomat | Lawyer }}
}}
Elsa Rosa Diana Kelly (born 28 February 1939) is an Argentine lawyer and diplomat. She is currently a judge on the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea as an expert. She held various positions within Argentine diplomacy and served as the ambassador to Italy, Austria and UNESCO.
Biography
Kelly was born in the city of Buenos Aires on 23 February 1939.{{cite web|title=Judge Elsa Kelly|url=https://www.itlos.org/en/the-tribunal/members/judge-elsa-kelly/|publisher=International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea|accessdate=29 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816175249/https://www.itlos.org/en/the-tribunal/members/judge-elsa-kelly/|archive-date=16 August 2016|url-status=live}} She graduated as a lawyer from the University of Buenos Aires in 1960, and was awarded a scholarship by the program of the Center for International Affairs at Harvard University. Kelly served as professor of public international law.{{cite web|author=Infobae|title=Elsa Kelly, cerca de la Embajada argentina en Washington|url=http://www.infobae.com/notas/525168-Elsa-Kelly-cerca-de-la-Embajada-argentina-en-Washington.html|accessdate=11 March 2013|date=8 July 2010|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313143321/http://www.infobae.com/2010/07/07/525168-elsa-kelly-cerca-la-embajada-argentina-washington|archivedate=13 March 2016|language=Spanish}} She began her diplomatic career by entering the Instituto del Servicio Exterior de la Nación. Kelly became an ambassador in 1984. In the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship, she held several positions, including member of the Higher Council of Ambassadors, director of cultural relations and director general of environmental affairs. She was named as deputy minister of foreign affairs under the government of Raúl Alfonsín.{{cite web|author=Perfil|title=Quién es Elsa Kelly, la esperanza de la Fragata|url=http://www.perfil.com/contenidos/2012/11/13/noticia_0032.html|accessdate=11 March 2013|date=13 November 2012|language=Spanish|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304191026/http://www.perfil.com/contenidos/2012/11/13/noticia_0032.html|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=live}}
Between 1985 and 1989, she represented Argentina to UNESCO in Paris. She was appointed ambassador to Italy, a position she held until 2003.{{cite web|author=Clarín|title=Elsa Kelly, con destino en Roma|url=http://old.clarin.com.ar/diario/2000/08/23/p-01103.htm|accessdate=11 March 2013|date=23 August 2000|language=Spanish|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304142757/http://old.clarin.com.ar/diario/2000/08/23/p-01103.htm|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=live}} Kelly served as an ambassador to Austria between 2003 and 2006.{{cite web|author=Prensa Argentina|title=Designan a Elsa Kelly como coordinadora nacional para la Cumbre Nuclear Global de Washington|url=http://www.prensa.argentina.ar/2010/02/08/4997-designan-a-elsa-kelly-como-coordinadora-nacional-para-la-cumbre-nuclear-global-de-washington.php|accessdate=11 March 2013|date=8 February 2010|language=Spanish|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130403141726/http://www.prensa.argentina.ar/2010/02/08/4997-designan-a-elsa-kelly-como-coordinadora-nacional-para-la-cumbre-nuclear-global-de-washington.php|archivedate=3 April 2013}} In 2010, Kelly was appointed by President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner as national coordinator for the Global Nuclear Summit in Washington, D.C. During that year, her name was among the possible successors to Héctor Timerman as the ambassador to the United States, a position that nevertheless remained in the hands of Alfredo Chiaradía.{{cite web|author=Página 12|title=¿Elsa Kelly a Washington?|url=http://www.pagina12.com.ar/diario/elpais/subnotas/1-47870-2010-07-08.html|accessdate=11 March 2013|date=8 July 2010|language=Spanish|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808070140/http://www.pagina12.com.ar/diario/elpais/subnotas/1-47870-2010-07-08.html|archive-date=8 August 2016|url-status=live}} Kelly was appointed a judge of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea on 1 October 2011, becoming the first woman among twenty members that make up the body.{{Cite web|url=https://www.un.org/press/en/2011/ga11185.doc.htm|title=General Assembly Adopts Resolution Aimed at Ensuring Sustainability of World's Fisheries, as It Holds Annual Debate on UN Regime Protecting Seas, Oceans|date=6 December 2011|publisher=United Nations|access-date=29 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160717210158/http://www.un.org/press/en/2011/ga11185.doc.htm|archive-date=17 July 2016|url-status=live}} She will remain in office for a period of nine years.{{cite web|author=Infobae|title=Una diplomática argentina fue designada en el Tribunal del Mar de la ONU|url=http://www.infobae.com/notas/588153-Una-diplomatica-argentina-fue-designada-en-el-Tribunal-del-Mar-de-la-ONU.html|accessdate=11 March 2013|date=16 June 2011|language=Spanish|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110619104749/http://www.infobae.com/notas/588153-Una-diplomatica-argentina-fue-designada-en-el-Tribunal-del-Mar-de-la-ONU.html|archivedate=19 June 2011}}{{cite web|author=Infobae Profesional|title=Quién es Elsa Kelly, la esperanza del Gobierno para recuperar la fragata Libertad|url=http://www.iprofesional.com/notas/148754-Quin-es-Elsa-Kelly-la-esperanza-del-Gobierno-para-recuperar-la-fragata-Libertad|accessdate=11 March 2013|date=14 November 2012|language=Spanish|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305080832/http://www.iprofesional.com/notas/148754-Quin-es-Elsa-Kelly-la-esperanza-del-Gobierno-para-recuperar-la-fragata-Libertad|archive-date=5 March 2016|url-status=live}}
Awards
Kelly has been decorated by the Governments of Mexico, Ecuador and France (Academic Palms). In 2008, she received the Konex Award in the diplomat category, delivered by the Konex Foundation.{{cite web|author=Fundación Konex|title=Elsa Kelly|url=http://www.fundacionkonex.org/b3039-elsa-kelly|accessdate=11 March 2013|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160403084625/http://www.fundacionkonex.org/b3039-elsa-kelly|archivedate=3 April 2016|language=Spanish}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Kelly, Elsa}}
Category:Argentine people of Irish descent
Category:Lawyers from Buenos Aires
Category:University of Buenos Aires alumni
Category:20th-century Argentine lawyers
Category:Argentine women diplomats
Category:Ambassadors of Argentina to Italy
Category:Ambassadors of Argentina to Austria
Category:Permanent delegates of Argentina to UNESCO
Category:International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea judges
Category:Argentine women ambassadors
Category:Argentine judges of United Nations courts and tribunals