Women in Justice, Women for Justice
Even though we see the enhanced engagement of women in public life, when it comes to the judiciary, they are grossly underrepresented, especially in the decision-making positions.Observation of  International Day of Women Judges on March 10 is part of a global effort to bring gender equality to the judiciary. Qatar moved the resolution with India among the nations that sponsored the resolution. In 2021, the UN General Assembly adopted the resolution to observe this day. The observation started in the year 2022. The Global Judicial Integrity Network of UNODC has played a significant role in realising the day as UN observation. It is a move towards realising SDG Goal 5, of achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls. The India Justice Report 2022 indicates that 13% of High Court judges and 35% of Subordinate Court judges are women.
Only through the active participation of women on equal terms with men at all levels of decision-making can we achieve sustainable development, peace, and democracy.
UN
Even though we see the enhanced engagement of women in public life, when it comes to the judiciary, they are grossly underrepresented, especially in the decision-making positions.Observation of  International Day of Women Judges on March 10 is part of a global effort to bring gender equality to the judiciary. Qatar moved the resolution with India among the nations that sponsored the resolution. In 2021, the UN General Assembly adopted the resolution to observe this day. The observation started in the year 2022. The Global Judicial Integrity Network of UNODC has played a significant role in realising the day as UN observation. It is a move towards realising SDG Goal 5, of achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls. The India Justice Report 2022 indicates that 13% of High Court judges and 35% of Subordinate Court judges are women.
Unless Women are Empowered, Justice Cannot be Done for Them.
Women judges enhance the legitimacy of courts, enhancing openness and accessibility to those seeking recourse to justice. Women judges also inspire the new generation of female legal professionals to pursue their goals within the legal system.
It is an unbalanced scenario regarding gender equality in the judiciary. In most European countries, more women are serving as judges or magistrates. Ironically, the number comes down when they reach the top positions. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) had only five female judges in its history, compared to 106 male judges. The first woman to be elected as a member of the ICJ happened in 1995, and she subsequently became the first female President of the Court. UN Women organisation indicates that some countries still prohibit women from being judges, three of them in the Arab region.Â
To Achieve justice, We Need More Women in Justice.
The Situation in India.
The India Justice Report 2022 indicates that 13% of High Court judges and 35% of Subordinate Court judges are women. Even though women’s representation stands at 27% in the lower judiciary, it decreases significantly in higher appointments. Not many women are occupying chief justice positions in high courts, too. Gujarat and Uttaranchal are the two states that have women holding the position of Chief Justice. Currently, out of 33 Supreme Court judges, only three are women. With Justice Nagarathna joining the Supreme Court, India will likely see a female chief justice in the Supreme Court in the coming years. Only 15% of the lawyers in India are women.
Societies being patriarchal is attributed to be the reason for the underrepresentation of women in the judiciary. Even though it is debatable whether it is a good system to have reservations in the judiciary system, states such as Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha and Rajasthan have benefited from such reservations as they now have 40-50% women judicial officers.
The issue is not institutional but about finding the right woman for judicial appointments. Some women advocates declined judge offers, citing domestic responsibilities, indicating the need for a shift in perceptions and support structures.
Justice SA Bobde, former Chief Justice of India
Women judges presence enhances the legitimacy of courts, sending a powerful message of accessibility and openness to those seeking justice. Sustainable development is possible only through the active participation of women on equal terms at all levels of decision-making. To achieve justice, we need more women in justice.
Toons: Anusha
Logs: M Sai Baba
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