CSW68: Advancing Women in the Judiciary

Tuesday, March 12, 2024 | 1:15–2:45 p.m. (EST) | UNHQ, Conference Room 8

High-level Side event co-sponsored by The State of Qatar, the Republic of Indonesia, the Kingdom of Morocco, Türkiye & the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

On the occasion of the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women & to commemorate International Women’s Judges’ Day

The barriers for women’s access to the judiciary are multifaceted, involving legal, political, institutional, normative and structural dimensions. The Supreme Judicial Council of the State of Qatar emphasizes the importance of female representation in the judiciary as essential for courts to genuinely reflect and effectively address the concerns of citizens and disputes.

The United Nations believes that gender-balanced judiciaries contribute to stronger, impartial justice systems that are viewed as more legitimate and less vulnerable to corruption. In this regard, the International Day of Women Judges adopted through United Nations General Assembly resolution A/RES/75/274, spearheaded by the State of Qatar, acknowledges women’s role in promoting the rule of law and reducing the judicial gender gap. It also commits to effective national strategies and plans for the advancement of women in judicial justice systems and institutions at the leadership, managerial and other levels.

The event aims to:

• Showcase the State of Qatar’s leadership in promoting global judicial gender equality.
• Discuss efforts to enhance women’s judicial participation across regions. Suggest steps and policies to boost women’s judiciary participation.
• Promote women’s broader participation in public life and access to justice

WELCOME REMARKS

H.E. Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al-Misnad, Minister of Social Development and Family of the State of Qatar

KEYNOTE REMARKS

• H.E. Ms. Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş, Minister of Family and Social Services of the Republic of Türkiye
• H.E. Sima Sami Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women
  Ms. Jan Beagle, Director-General of the International Development Law Organization (IDLO)
• Ms. Shoko Noda, Assistant Secretary-General, Assistant Administrator, and Director, Crisis Bureau, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

VIDEO MESSAGE

Honourable Binta Nyako, President of International Association of Women Judges and Judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria

NATIONAL PERSPECTIVES

• Judge Hessa Ahmed Al-Sulaiti, Court of Appeal of the Supreme Judicial of the State of Qatar Council (the first Qatari female judge appointed in 2010)
• Judge Fatima Abdulla Almal, President of the second Criminal Circuit of the first instance Court of the Supreme Judiciary Council of the State of Qatar (the first Qatari female judge specialized in criminal justice)
• Judge Mina Sougrati, President of the Union of Moroccan Women Judges, President Elect International Association of women Judges (IAWJ) Expert in Human Rights, Kingdom of Morocco
• H.E. Alanoud bint Abdulaziz bin Hamad, Member of the The Public Prosecution of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
• Judge Özlem Kalebek Özyıldıran of Türkiye
• Justice Nani Indrawati, Supreme Court Judge, Chair of the Association of Indonesian Women Judges, Republic of Indonesia

DISCUSSANT

Honorable Vanessa Ruiz, Member of the Advisory Board of the Global Judicial Integrity Network, former President International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ), District of Columbia Court of Appeals

MODERATOR

Ms. Sarah Cliffe, Executive Director of the Center on International Cooperation, New York University