LocationsIn recognition of the upcoming International Day for Women Judges
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In 2021, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution marking March 10 as the International Day of Women Judges— a tangible acknowledgment of the positive shift occurring in judicial systems worldwide.
The framework of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) encourages countries to assess the presentation in the judiciary, which is a key indicator for measuring progress towards the SDG. A representative judiciary is crucial for a more effective and responsive justice system as well as enhancing access to justice for all.
Across Asia, women have made significant strides in building a gender-responsive judiciary and rising to leadership positions. In Southeast Asia, Maria Lourdes Sereno became the youngest and first female Chief Justice of the Philippine Supreme Court. More recently, Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat was appointed as Malaysia’s first female Chief Justice. In South Asia, India’s appointment of three female judges to its top court has been hailed as a historic milestone.
Despite this progress, women remain underrepresented in the judiciary, especially in judicial leadership roles across the region. Structural barriers, gender biases, and cultural norms continue to hinder their advancement to senior judicial roles.
An inclusive and equitable judiciary plays a critical role in sustainable development as judicial decisions significantly impact society’s progress toward gender equality and justice.
Globally, UNDP works to close the gender justice gap through the Gender Justice Platform, developed in partnership with UN Women. In addition to offering thought leadership on women’s access to justice and supporting their meaningful participation in the justice and security sectors, the Gender Justice Platform also advances its goals through programs implemented by over 30 countries offices. In Asia and the Pacific, UNDP has a strong track record of supporting national institutions in improving access to justice and strengthening gender and law enforcement.
The underrepresentation of women in the judiciary has significant implications, particularly in handling and adjudicating cases of gender-based violence (GBV). A study by UNDP’s Judicial Integrity Network in ASEAN (JIN ASEAN) underscores the importance of gender equality within the judiciary to ensure fair and effective justice delivery. The study highlights that the perceived burden of balancing family responsibilities with professional roles often prevents women from pursuing higher positions in the judiciary. It emphasizes the necessity of establishing gender-fair courtroom etiquette to guide judges in treating everyone equally.
The upcoming webinar will examine both the progress made and the persistent barriers in advancing women’s leadership in judicial systems across Asia. It will feature case studies and insights from countries such as Indonesia, Thailand, and Pakistan.
Objectives:
- Showcase effective policies and initiatives that have successfully promoted women’s judicial leadership.
- Examine structural, cultural, and institutional barriers that hinder women’s access to senior judicial roles.
- Provide case studies demonstrating how increased representation of women judges enhance gender justice and strengthen judicial systems.
- Foster regional dialogue on strategies for promoting actionable solutions for greater gender inclusivity in judicial systems.
