The United Nations (UN’s) International Day of Women Judges (IDWJ) is observed annually on 10 March across the globe to highlight the vital role of women in the judiciary and to advocate for gender equality within judicial systems.
- The day emphasizes the significance of women’s representation and contributions to the judiciary worldwide.
- 10 March 2025 marks the observance of the 4th IDWJ.
Background:
i. On April 28, 2021, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted resolution A/RES/75/274, introduced by the State of Qatar, designating March 10th as IDWJ, to be observed annually.
ii.The resolution acknowledged the efforts of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) through its Global Judicial Integrity Network (GJIN) in promoting the inclusion of women’s representation within judicial systems.
iii.The first-ever IDWJ was observed on March 10, 2022.
Global Judicial Integrity Network(GJIN):
i.The GJIN, launched by the UNODC in April 2018 in Vienna, Austria, is a unique global initiative that brings together judges and judicial experts from around the world.
ii.Its mission is to support judiciaries worldwide in promoting judicial integrity and combating corruption within the justice sector, in alignment with Article 11 of the UN Convention against Corruption.
Women in Justice, Women for Justice” campaign:
i.The “Women in Justice, Women for Justice” campaign was launched by Austria’s Minister of Justice, Alma Zadić, and the Executive Director (ED) of UNODC, Ghada Fathi Waly.
ii.This initiative was introduced during the first-ever IDWJ in 2022, with the goal of promoting gender balance and responsiveness throughout the justice system, marked by a high-level event in Vienna.
2025 Events:
i.On the occasion of IDWJ, the International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ) will be hosting its 17th Biennial Conference from April 9-12, 2025, in Cape Town, South Africa.
- The conference 2025 is themed “Resilience: Women in Leadership to End Gender-Based Violence & Femicide,” aiming to empower women judges and legal professionals to lead efforts against gender-based violence and femicide.
Points to Note:
i.Anna Chandy (1905–1996) was the first woman judge in India and one of the first female judges in the British Empire (BE).
ii.M. Fathima Beevi (1927–2023) was the first woman to serve as a judge in the Supreme Court of India (SCI).
iii.India is recognized as the world’s largest democracy with an extensive judicial system. As of August 1, 2024, women constitute 14% of sitting judges across India’s High Courts (HC), an increase from 13% in June 2023 and 11% in March 2022.
About United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC):
Executive Director (ED)– Ghada Fathi Waly
Headquarters- Vienna, Austria
Established– 1997
