The United Nations(UN) celebrates the first-ever annual observance of the International Day of Women Judges on 10th March 2022.
Starting from 2022 the 10th March will be annually celebrated across the globe as International Day of Women Judges to promote the full and equal participation of women at all levels of the judiciary.
- The day also celebrates the progress that has been made and raises awareness about the challenges ahead.
Background:
i.The United Nations General Assembly(UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/75/274 on 28 April 2021 and proclaimed the 10th March of every year as the International Day of Women Judges.
ii.The resolution was drafted by the State of Qatar.
iii.The first-ever International Day of Women Judges was observed on 10th March 2022.
Global Judicial Integrity Network:
On the occasion of the first International Day of Women Judges, UNODC Executive Director Ghada Waly and Alma Zadić, Minister of Justice of Austria launched a new “Women in Justice/for Justice” initiative to promote representation and gender-responsive criminal justice.
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.
Gender Equality & Women Judges:
Gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls – Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 is one of the crucial steps to achieve progress across all the SDG.
The representation of women in the judiciary is significant to ensure that the legal system is developed with all of society in mind and it also inspires the next generation of female judges and motivates them to achieve their goals.
Observance in India:
The Supreme Court of India commemorated the first-ever International Day of Women Judges with special programmes organised by the Supreme Court Registry.
All the women judges of the constitutional courts and all the women judicial officers from across India were invited to participate in the programme.
Key People: Justice N. V. Ramana, the Chief Justice of India, Justice Indira Banerjee, Justice Hima Kohli, Justice B. V. Nagarathna and Justice Bela M. Trivedi, Hon’ble Judges of the Supreme Court will take part in the event.
First Women Judge of SC:
In 1989, M. Fathima Beevi (from Kerala) became the first female judge in the Supreme Court, a position she held till her retirement on 29 April 1992.
Key Points:
i.In 2017, around 40% of judges were women, which is around 35% more than in 2008.
ii.In several 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.
