Judicial Integrity Network in ASEAN is learning about gendered threats to judicial integrity by listening to judges in the region and collecting qualitative data about gendered threats, impacts and practices in response. The project will take an inclusive, equality-based approach to the collection of qualitative experience.

Gendered threats to judicial integrity is defined broadly to include ways that the gender of the judge or gendered assumptions are used to undermine judicial integrity, either explicitly or implicitly. At the inquiry stage, the project will invite judges to share their experiences based on their own definitions of sex, gender and sexual orientation. This approach will allow for the surfacing of previously hidden gendered threats to judicial integrity and will respect the nuanced, intersectional experiences of participating judges.

Judges are invited to share their perspectives on:

• Physical and reputational threats based on sex, gender or sexual orientation
• Harassment based on sex or gender or sextortion
• Assumptions, expectations and based on gender identity or expression
• Gendered assumptions, including assumptions about the sexual orientation of the judiciary

The consultation and research will focus on these key inquiry questions:

1. What is the intersection of gender equality and judicial integrity?
2. How do gendered threats, exploitation, exposure and risks affect judicial integrity?
3. What are the sexual harassment, sextortion and gendered bullying experiences of judges?
4. How do gendered threats affect judges’ capacity to address sexual harassment, sexual assault and gender discrimination cases in society?
5. What is the impact of gendered threats on the rule of law, human rights protections, and fair trial processes?
6. What promising practices are underway to address gendered threats to judicial integrity?

It is acknowledged that this research may result in data that overlaps with or relates to questions of gender equality in society or within the administration of justice generally. While the research may overlap with questions of gender equality in society the primary focus is on the impact on judicial integrity. JIN ASEAN aims to align its research to complement research into gender equality in society and in court administration, without duplicating existing efforts to understand the experience of girls and women appearing in courts.

Launching in May, the research will be conducted over the summer of 2021 culminating in a launch event in August.

Judges and judicial administration with the JIN ASEAN network are the primary focus of the research, with benefits to lawyers, rule of law advocates, human rights practitioners, academics working with a gender lens and public users of courts. The research will result in research and pragmatic tools to prevent and react to gendered threats to judicial integrity.

UPDATE: The research has been completed and the report is available here.