Happy International Day of Women Judges

The International Day of Women Judges serves as a platform to reaffirm commitments to advancing women in judicial justice systems. The campaign “Women in Justice, Women for Justice” aims to promote the full and equal participation of women at all levels within the judiciary. Celebrating progress made while raising awareness about remaining challenges, the day emphasises the importance of national strategies for gender equality in judicial leadership.

India

Over its 73-year existence, the Indian Supreme Court has grappled with a glaring gender imbalance, with only 4% of its 268 judges being women. The historical absence of a woman Chief Justice may see a potential shift with the prospective appointment of Justice B.V. Nagarathna, though her expected tenure is notably brief at 36 days. Progress toward gender diversity has been slow, as illustrated by the first woman, Justice Fathima Beevi, joining in 1989. Despite a marginal improvement in the 2010s with five women judges, the groundbreaking appointment of three female justices in 2021 underscores both strides made and the ongoing struggle for gender parity in the upper echelons of the Indian judiciary.

Malaysia

Judge Nallini Pathmanathan is the first Malaysian Indian woman appointed to the superior courts in Malaysia in 2007. She has expressed that the judiciary’s welcoming atmosphere and the importance of diversity for racial harmony in the country. With Malaysia boasting a significant number of women judges, including the Chief Justice and President of the Court of Appeal, Judge Pathmanathan reflects that women are indeed progressing in the legal profession.