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Empowering women in justice

Why investing in women is vital to achieving justice

December 8^th, 2023

Our world is in crisis. The lives of millions of people are devastated daily by raging conflicts, escalating tensions and disasters affecting communities across the world. In most of these contexts, it is women and girls bearing the brunt of the various forms of violence which arise, with limited access to justice, human rights and other vital resources.

And yet, against all odds, women are at the forefront of global efforts fighting injustice, building peace, and securing their rightful place at the decision-making table.

To mark the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, UNDP is shining a light on the ways in which justice for women and girls can help transform societies and create a world free from gender-based violence.

Through the Gender Justice Platform, a global collaboration between UNDP and UN Women, efforts are focusing on bridging the gender justice gap, empowering women, dismantling barriers to their participation in rule of law institutions, and fortifying women's organizations’ participation.

Female judges: Improving justice and increasing trust

We know that women’s meaningful representation in justice institutions increases trust in the judiciary and improves the justice experience for women and those most at risk of being left behind. Women leaders are known to challenge and change societal norms that perpetuate gender-based violence, serving as advocates for change.

However, we also know that female judges face numerous challenges, including harassment, intimidation, and breaches of privacy, and encounter obstacles such as gender stereotypes and limited opportunities.

Judge Elisa Samuel Boerekamp, a High Court Judge and General Director of the Centre for Judicial and Legal Training of Mozambique takes part in a community event. Photo provided by Judge Boerekamp

In Africa, for example, female judges often lack essential training and access to information vital in executing their roles and asserting their rights. An upcoming study on the status of women judges in Africa commissioned by the Gender Justice Platform shows that women judges have limited access to formalized mentoring opportunities, which underscores the urgent need to provide training and networking programs tailored to their needs.

To address this gap, the Gender Justice Platform collaborated with United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the Government of Gabon and the Conference of Constitutional Jurisdictions of Africa (CJCA) to organize the first regional conference of women judges in Africa, which brought together over 60 female judges from 35 African countries. This resulted in the establishment of a network of female judges in Africa that signed the Libreville Declaration, a regional framework for cooperation to support the institutionalization of the issue of access of African women in the judiciary– a first step towards a regional commitment to meaningful participation of women in the justice sector.

“Conflict-related sexual violence victims are not a homogenous group, so we have to take a holistic approach.”

Shining a spotlight on women role models in the judiciary is also key to tackling gender bias and negative stereotypes. In a recent event in The Hague, Judge Amina Augie, a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, urged women to support each other in the legal profession, and to break free from self-imposed mental barriers: “A lot of women have locked themselves in a mental prison that they can’t imagine getting out of because it's all you know. Nobody stopped you from being a judge, nobody stopped you from aspiring, nobody has stopped you, but you have stopped yourself because inside your head you just don't believe that it could happen or that you could be a judge at all and so you just step back anyway.”

Supporting survivors of conflict-related sexual violence

Women in the criminal justice system can act as agents of change. Diversity and inclusion enrich institutions and can lead to greater accountability. For example, in Kosovo1, nearly a quarter-century after armed conflict erupted, survivors of conflict-related sexual violence still suffer from a culture of shame and silence. Yet, despite challenges, Kosovo made significant strides in 2017 by legally recognizing conflict-related sexual violence survivors as victims of armed conflict, and establishing the Commission for the Verification and Recognition of Sexual Violence Victim Status in 2018, to verify the identity of the survivors and provide them reparations.

The Gender Justice Platform has provided essential support to secure reparations for 1599 men and women and to address various forms of discrimination affecting survivors, particularly elderly women in rural areas.

Women survivors are also supported to engage in art initiatives that serve as an important tool for the healing process. The Kosovo prosecutors and investigators are receiving support through mentoring programmes to strengthen their capacity to respond to conflict-related sexual violence.

The “Colours of Our Souls” art exhibition at the Kosovo Museum in Pristina featured the works of survivors of conflict-related sexual violence. Photo: UN Women

“Conflict-related sexual violence victims are not a homogenous group, so we have to take a holistic approach not only looking at access to justice, but also look at the access to social, economic, political, legal and health services,” explained Jeta Krasniqi, Deputy Chair and Civil Society Representative of the Commission for the Verification and Recognition of Sexual Violence Victim Status in Kosovo.

The Gender Justice Platform remains committed to unlocking the full potential of women and girls. Through joint efforts, the platform seeks to accelerate progress, promote gender justice, and empower women in all their diversity.