Pedersen, Helga (1911—)

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Pedersen, Helga (1911—)

Danish lawyer and politician. Born in 1911.

Appointed the first woman judge at the European Court of Human Rights in 1971, Helga Pedersen was formerly a member of the Danish Parliament from 1950 to 1971, during which she distinguished herself as an advocate of prison and penal reform and the advancement of women's legal status. Pedersen also served as a supreme court justice and was a delegate to UNESCO from 1949 to 1974. She is the recipient of the gold medal from the Association of World Peace Through Law.