COMMUNITY

Women Judges Leading the Way: GQUAL & Global Partners Unite at CSW70 to Advance Gender-Responsive Justice

On the sidelines of CSW70, UNDP, UN Women, the International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ), and the GQUAL Campaign convened a high-level discussion to spotlight the essential role of women judges in advancing gender justice and driving systemic reform across justice institutions. The event, co-sponsored by the Permanent Missions of Germany, the Netherlands, Kiribati, and Qatar, brought together policymakers, judges, and international partners committed to strengthening inclusive and accountable justice systems.

At a time of growing pressure on women’s rights worldwide, the conversation underscored a critical reality: justice systems can either advance gender equality or undermine it. And in moments of crisis, women’s access to justice is often among the first rights to erode.

Justice, Representation, and the Power of Women Judges

Justice systems are not neutral. They reflect the values, biases, and structures of the societies in which they operate. Women judges play a critical role in shaping these systems – ensuring that institutions remain accountable and that women’s experiences and perspectives are reflected in the decisions that affect them most. 

As Marina Walter, Deputy Director of UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Arab States, emphasized at the opening of the event: “Women judges drive reforms, challenge bias and open pathways to justice for women and girls. When women lead, justice becomes more responsive, inclusive, and effective”.  

And yet, women remain significantly underrepresented in judiciaries worldwide – particularly in senior and decision-making positions. This exclusion reflects structural barriers that continue to limit equal participation and weaken institutional legitimacy.

But as the discussion made clear, this is not a static reality. Change is possible – and already underway.

In Kiribati, for example, women have reshaped the justice system from within. As H.E. Ruth Cross Kwansing, Minister for Women, Youth, Sports and Social Affairs, noted: “Our Chief Justice and our Attorney General are women. When women hold the gavel, the law begins to see women, too.”

From Individual Leadership to Institutional Transformation

While individual leadership matters, the conversation highlighted that lasting change depends on collective action and institutional reform.

Through the IAWJ—a global network of more than 6,500 judges across over 100 countries and territories—women judges are building solidarity, sharing strategies, and strengthening national women judges’ associations working to expand women’s leadership in the judiciary.

“We must see women judges not only as shaping jurisprudence, but also as catalysts for change from within the system. Across the globe, through IAWJ and our Women in Leadership in Law (WILIL) initiative, judges are going beyond the bench to transform judiciaries—working collectively with justice-sector partners to reform the institutions in which they serve,” said Amie Lewis, Senior Program Officer and Director of WILIL, IAWJ.

This collective approach is increasingly taking shape at the regional level. Women judges from Iraq, Qatar, and Tanzania shared how they are reshaping judicial culture, advancing gender-responsive decision-making, and sustaining progress even amid growing backlash.

In the Arab States, a regional network of women judges—supported by the UNDP–UN Women Gender Justice Platform—is being established, signaling growing momentum for cross-border collaboration and institutional transformation.

As Judge Taghreed Abdul-Majeed, Deputy President of the Baghdad Al-Rusafa Court of Appeal, President of the Financial Services Court, Head of the Iraqi Association of Women Judges noted: “We are bringing our expertise together to overcome challenges, advocate for equity and create space for cooperation that will enhance the role of women in the judiciary. This network will be a platform for transformation and knowledge.”

Scaling Impact: From Reform to Results

The Gender Justice Platform, jointly led by UNDP and UN Women, supports local and regional networks of women judges and drives meaningful change for women across the full justice chain. Working in over 40 countries, the platform has improved access for justice for more 300,000 women globally, including in crisis and conflict settings. 

“The Gender Justice Platform is a vehicle for change that is felt by women. It’s a unique partnership model that has achieved concrete country-led reforms,” said Ms. Inken Denker, Head of Division Feminist Development Policy, German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom support the Gender Justice Platform, enabling long-term reform for stronger justice institutions and scaled women’s leadership in justice across regions.

Participants emphasized that justice reform is not a short-term intervention. It requires long-term investment, aligned with the pace and complexity of institutional change.

As Sarah Hendriks of UN Women put it: “Women judges are holding the line. It is time for the rest of the system to hold it with them.”

Representation Shapes Justice – including international justice

The event also highlighted how women’s leadership is transforming justice at the international level.

GQUAL presented their new report “Voices from the Bench: Women Shaping International Justice”, developed with the support from UN Women. 

As highlighted by Claudia Martin, Founding Member of the GQUAL Campaign Secretariat “the report shows how women’s presence in international justice reshapes institutions, making them more legitimate, credible and responsive to the societies they serve”. Built on 23 in-depth interviews with women serving across international and regional justice systems, it highlights that gender-balanced institutions lead to better decisions, healthier institutions, stronger justice outcomes and advances international law. 

One  collective message of encouragement to future generations of women and girls stands out from the women interviewed: “Prepare relentlessly, support each other openly, lead with integrity, and widen the circle. The next generation must not only enter international spaces, but also reshape them, making them more just, inclusive and reflective of the world they serve,” summarized Claudia Martin. 

From Presence to Power

The discussion closed with a shared recognition: advancing gender-responsive justice requires more than increasing numbers. It requires transforming institutions, investing in leadership, and sustaining collective action.

Because justice systems that exclude women cannot fully deliver justice.

And as participants made clear, women judges are already driving that transformation – holding the line in defense of rights, accountability, and equality.

The task now is for the rest of the system to meet that leadership with the political will, resources, and commitment it demands.