Published by: Nibandh Vinod
Last updated: Mar 09, 2023, 10:20 PM IST
Women judges have promoted gender equality and ushered in a diverse yet inclusive society. (Representative image: Shutterstock)
International Day of Women Judges, held annually on March 10, celebrates women judges who have been at the forefront of the fight against social injustice
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF WOMEN JUDGES 2023: The road to equal representation of the sexes in all levels of civil society has been long and arduous, riddled with discrimination and inequality. In India, this changed with Anna Chandi, who became the first female Supreme Court justice in 1937. In 1989, Fathima Beevi became the first female judge of the Supreme Court of India.
Several Indian women, and women around the world, such as Ruth Bader Ginsberg in the United States, have joined the illustrious list of female judges bringing balance to the usually male-dominated justice system.
Women judges have promoted gender equality and ushered in a diverse yet inclusive society. The International Day of Women Judges, held annually on March 10, celebrates all the women judges who have been at the forefront of the fight against social injustice. Below we look at the history and significance of the day.
International Day of Women Judges: History
To honor female judges around the world and their contributions to justice, equality and fairness in society, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has decided to mark an international day for female judges. This development took place because of an international conference of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Doha, Qatar, from February 24 to 27, 2020.
At the conference, the Institute for African Women in Law (IAWL) stressed the need for judiciaries to encourage and develop a culture of respect and enforcement of women’s rights. Sexual harassment and harassment of women in the legal profession, especially female judges, were also discussed.
On April 28, 2021, resolution 75/274 was passed by the UNGA, declaring March 10 as the International Day of Women Judges. On March 10, 2022, the International Day of Women Judges was celebrated for the first time.
International Day of Women Judges: meaning
International Day of Women Judges is an important day not only for celebrating women judges in global legal institutions. It is a symbolic day for the struggle for gender equality, equal opportunities and the fight against gender discrimination, which exists in different layers of society.
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