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Justice with a gender perspective
Despite women’s increased engagement in public life, they remain significantly underrepresented in decision-making positions. In fact, a relatively small number of women have been, or are part of, the judiciary, particularly at senior judicial leadership positions.
Women’s representation in the judiciary is key to ensuring that courts represent their citizens, address their concerns and hand down sound judgments. By their mere presence, women judges enhance the legitimacy of courts, sending a powerful signal that they are open and accessible to those who seek recourse to justice.
The entry of women judges into spaces from which they had historically been excluded has been a positive step in the direction of judiciaries being perceived as being more transparent, inclusive, and representative of the people whose lives they affect.
By marking the day, we will reaffirm our commitment to develop and implement appropriate and effective national strategies and plans for the advancement of women in judicial justice systems and institutions at the leadership, managerial and other levels.
Join us in celebrating this first annual International Day of Women Judges to promote the full and equal participation of women at all levels of the judiciary, to celebrate the progress that has been made and raise awareness about the challenges ahead!
Global Judicial Integrity Network
The Global Judicial Integrity Network of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) brings together female judges to learn from each other’s lived experiences and provide a source of solidarity. Find out more about the Networks’ work.
Women judges and the achievement of gender equality
Gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls – Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 is crucial to achieve progress across all the Sustainable Development Goals and to add a gender perspective to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
Specifically, the representation of women in the judiciary is significant for many reasons. In addition to ensuring that the legal system is developed with all of society in mind, it also inspires the next generation of female judges and motivates them to achieve their goals.
Only through the active participation of women, on equal terms with men, at all levels of decision-making, we’ll be able to achieve sustainable development, peace and democracy.
Background
While equality in the judiciary has been historically uneven, steps are being taken to remedy this as evidenced by the declaration by the United Nations General Assembly of 10 March as the International Day of Women Judges. The General Assembly resolution, drafted by the State of Qatar, is tangible proof of an positive shift.
Redressing gender inequalities is also at the core of UNODC’s Strategy for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, and is a goal shared by the Global Programme for the Implementation of the Doha Declaration, as it works to promote a culture of lawfulness around the world, providing education and training and supporting the full participation of women in every professional sphere.