Doha

- " International Women's Judge Day" is an initiative by the State of Qatar to promote the full and equal participation of women at all levels of the judiciary, celebrate the progress made and raise awareness of the challenges ahead.

Celebrating this day, corresponding to the tenth of March, for the first time this year, highlighted the strengthening of the presence of female judges, which would enhance the legitimacy of judicial bodies in general, and develop strategies for the advancement of women in the systems and institutions of the judiciary at the leadership and administrative levels.

During a discussion session organized by the Supreme Judicial Council in Doha, the interventions focused on clarifying the presence of women in the judicial field, and the policies of empowering Qatari women through the participation of a number of women figures in the judiciary and public prosecution and prominent women leaders in Qatari society, as well as presenting experiences of women in the judiciary within Qatar.

Supporting the role of women

The President of the Supreme Judicial Council in Qatar, Dr. Hassan bin Lahdan Al-Mohannadi, stressed the direction of the State of Qatar and its judiciary to support the role of women professionally and humanely, and to enhance their roles in the judiciary, which stems from its permanent centrality in all past international efforts towards realizing the sustainable development goals, which are at its core the files of women’s empowerment. In all areas of life.

While Amal Al-Mannai, CEO of the Qatar Foundation for Social Work, considered that the "International Women's Judge's Day" initiative, which was formulated by the State of Qatar, is a continuation of a series of initiatives that it launched, such as the World Autism Awareness Day on April 2, and the International Day for the Protection of Education from Attacks in On the ninth of September, she stressed that this initiative will shed light on the balance in the field of justice, opening the field and giving the opportunity to talents regardless of gender.

As for the first Qatari judge, Mrs. Hessa Al-Sulaiti, who inaugurated the slogan "International Women's Judge Day", she affirms the Qatari society's awareness of the role of women and their visibility in various fields, as well as the role of the state in empowering women in various fields.

Al-Sulaiti notes the awareness of Qatari society about the role of women and their empowerment in various fields (Al-Jazeera)

crowning glory

Al-Sulaiti told Al-Jazeera Net that women's participation in the celebration of this day is a culmination of her and her position as a woman judge, especially after the initiative of the State of Qatar to allocate an "International Women's Judge's Day" has paid off, and the world is celebrating it annually under the umbrella of the United Nations.

Al-Sulaiti described her inauguration of the slogan "International Women's Judge Day" as a great honor for her, and for honoring Qatari women in the judiciary in general.

Al-Sulaiti stressed that she faced a great challenge as the first Qatari female judge, which is the first experience of a woman in the judiciary, as she was not accepted when she applied for the first time for fear of the community's reaction, but she did not give up and tried again and insisted on completing the journey with the support of the family and the support of the community and colleagues.

While Judge Aisha Al Emadi touched on the experience of Qatari women in the judicial field, highlighting her personal experience as a judge and the support she received to empower her and perform her role to the fullest.

Women in the State of Qatar enjoy a great position, as they have held many leadership positions in several fields, which confirms the confidence they enjoy from the state, according to Al Emadi.

A special session that included narratives about the limitations that women faced in the field of justice (Al-Jazeera)

state support

Al-Emadi recounted some of the challenges she faced and ways to overcome them in light of the state's support for women's participation in the judiciary, especially with regard to the criminal aspect, which proved that women judges play their role as dictated by conscience, law and judicial behavior.

In turn, Noor Al-Hashemi, the Undersecretary of the Public Prosecution, spoke about the beginning of her career in social work, and then the transition to the Public Prosecution and the challenges that were overcome thanks to all the ingredients provided by the state to empower women in various fields.

Al-Hashemi considered that the "International Women's Judge Day" is an important initiative that aims to shed light on achieving justice, equality and empowering women in the field of justice.

For her part, Judge of the Commercial Investment Court Reem Al-Nuaimi stressed that the State of Qatar is one of the first countries that highlighted the role of women and empowered them in all fields and leadership positions, whether ministerial, diplomatic or even at the level of various institutions, noting the role of the Supreme Judicial Council in highlighting the role of women and dedicating an “international day” for a woman judge.

enhance transparency

Al-Nuaimi told Al Jazeera Net, "This initiative aims to enhance judicial integrity, empower women and gender balance in judicial institutions," especially that the presence of women judges would enhance the transparency and inclusiveness of the judiciary in general.

The judiciary in Qatar was limited to men only, but now it has become a mixture and allows women to highlight their competence and capabilities in achieving justice, according to Al-Nuaimi.

The "International Women's Judge Day" is a Qatari initiative that crystallized in the final statement of the second high-level meeting of the Global Network for Judicial Integrity of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, which was hosted by Doha in the year 2020, after which Qatar presented, in early 2021, a draft resolution calling for the adoption of a day in the UN calendar The world is concerned with women judges, which has already been achieved;

The seventy-fifth session of the United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted the project.