Despite women’s increasing involvement in public life, they remain significantly underrepresented in decision-making roles. Historically, women have faced substantial barriers to entry in leadership positions, particularly within the judicial system. The belief that women were inferior to men has often led to their exclusion from high-ranking roles across various fields, including law. However, times are changing, and progress continues to be made.
A significant step toward change occurred last year at the UNODC Global Judicial Integrity Network’s Second High-Level Meeting in Doha, where President Vanessa Ruiz, alongside the Chief Justice of Qatar, proposed the idea of creating an International Day to honor the accomplishments of women judges. Her Excellency Alya Ahmed S. Al-Thani, Qatar’s permanent representative to the United Nations, skillfully led the drafting negotiations at the UN, helping bring this proposal to fruition.
Achieving gender balance on the bench by ensuring equal representation of men and women enhances the judiciary’s ability to deliver impartial and fair judgments. Women judges bring diverse perspectives and experiences to the courtroom, helping to increase public trust in the judiciary’s capacity to uphold human rights, the rule of law, and the societal values it is meant to protect. Additionally, the inclusion of women in leadership positions is essential in dismantling corruption networks, ensuring greater transparency and accountability within the legal system.
The inclusion of women judges, particularly in environments where they were once excluded, is a positive development in the quest for a more transparent, inclusive, and representative judicial system. By commemorating the International Day of Women Judges, we reaffirm our commitment to promoting and implementing effective national policies and strategies that advance women’s participation in judicial systems, leadership roles, and beyond.
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