International Day of women judges

Context

March 10 marks the International Day of Women Judges and on this day, the United National reaffirms its commitment to develop.

History

• United Nations General Assembly Resolution 75/274 designated 10th March the International Day of Women Judges in 2021.
• Equality in the judiciary system has historically been uneven and the steps taken to change this are evidenced by the declaration of the UN General Assembly to mark this day as International Day of Women Judges. 
• The UN believes that through active participation of women on equal terms at all levels of decision making the world will be able to achieve sustainable development, peace and democracy.
• The resolution of the General Assembly was drafted by the State of Qatar, which is proof to bring a positive shift in society.

Importance of Women in the Judiciary

• Women in the judiciary play a critical role in ensuring that courts represent the country’s citizens, address problems, and deliver fair decisions. 
• The presence of women in the judiciary system strengthens the legitimacy of the system and conveys a powerful message that courts are open and accessible to all seeking justice.
• Women have historically been excluded from the profession, thus their appointment as judges is a great step forward for the judiciary.

Significance

• UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 5 is Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women and Girls. 
• Their goal is to achieve progress across all Development goals and to add a gender perspective to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. 
• The representation of women in the judicial system is significant for many reasons which ensure that the legal system is developed with society in mind. 
• It also inspires the next generation of women judges and advocates to achieve their goals.