Illustration of a scale of justice with photos of women judges on one side and signs reading "justice, equality, freedom, together" on the other side.
Poster for the International Day of Women Judges
Photo:United Nations

To achieve justice, we need more women in justice

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 International Day of Women Judges with the campaign “Women in Justice, women for justice” 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!

Gavel

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

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.

Women in the criminal justice system can act as agents of change and contribute to greater accountability. Women judges bring different perspectives and experiences, strengthening judicial systems. Women in leadership roles help disrupt networks of collusion, striking a blow against corruption.

Women’s representation in law enforcement and judicial institutions has been linked to more effective, victim-centered responses to crime.

By investing in women’s advancement and women justice leaders, we can help ensure that justice is better served and that women and all members of our societies are met with fairness and equality before the law, for the benefit of all.

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.

 

Did you know?

  • Forty per cent of judges were women in 2017, which is 35 per cent more than in 2008.
  • In 1946, Eleanor Roosevelt famously penned an "open letter to the women of the world," urging their increased involvement in national and international affairs.
  • In most European countries, there are more women than men professional judges or magistrates; however, women represent 41 per cent of the judges in national supreme courts and only 25 per cent of court presidents.

Campaign Materials

Women Judges Day

Download the social media material of the "Women in Justice, Women for Justice" campaign and spread the message. You can also edit a template and customize it.

Resources

A woman walking with a bike in front of a board that says Welcome to Sepur Zarco

“Peace can be achieved through justice,” said years ago Iris Yasmín Barrios Aguilar, a judge at the First Criminal Court of Guatemala who took the case of Sepur Zarco in her country. This case was historical as it obtained the condemnation of two former soldiers guilty of rape, forced labor and slavery of indigenous rural women. Learn more about this story, the perspective of Judge Barrios Aguilar and the testimony of Demecia Yat, one of the affected women who went to court.

 

Group of women demonstrating in a hall with flags from different countries

In recent years the number of young women graduating from law schools has increased immensely. Nevertheless, the saturation of the judiciary is still low. Find out more about the representation of women in the judiciary, and hear the voices of many women who have paved the way and were able to overcome biases and rise to positions in the highest courts.

an abstract illustration of people engaged in an event

International days and weeks are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity. The existence of international days predates the establishment of the United Nations, but the UN has embraced them as a powerful advocacy tool. We also mark other UN observances.