HE the Permanent Representative of Qatar to the United Nations, Sheikha Alia bint Ahmed bin Saif al-Thani, called on the international community to continue efforts to raise awareness on the importance of women's participation in the judiciary, and to implement the principle and standards of transparency to ensure non-discrimination between the genders, in respect and application of the relevant international constitutions, laws and treaties.
HE Sheikha Alia was speaking at a conference titled 'Arab Women in the Judiciary: Achievements and Challenges,' organised by the International Center for Human Sciences (under the auspices of Unesco, in co-operation with the College of Law at Qatar University (QU), on the occasion of the International Women's Day and the International Day of Women Judges.
HE Sheikha Alia commended the constructive institutional partnership through which the conference was organised and which comes in celebration of these two high-profile occasions that are linked to achievements that are a source of pride for Qatar represented by the International Day of Women Judges initiative launched by Qatar at the second high-level meeting of the Global Judicial Integrity Network, from February 25-27 2020 in Doha.
She pointed out that the initiative was sponsored and approved as a UN resolution at the level of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), after the efforts of Qatar, where the permanent delegation in New York finalised the draft resolution and mobilised the necessary international support for it. She noted that it was approved and issued under No. 75/274 in April 2021, marking a historic victory for women globally.
The resolution, which has adopted March 10 of each year as a day to celebrate women judges worldwide, confirms in its meaning the importance of women's participation in public institutions, especially in the judiciary, HE Sheikha Alia said.
She expressed her delight with the regional conference's title 'Arab Women in the Judiciary: Achievements and Challenges,' considering it a positive title that celebrates and documents the struggles and achievements of Arab women in the field of justice, and foresees the future by facing challenges in order to achieve more accomplishments for the benefit of Arab women and Arab societies.
The progress and development of women is a necessary condition for the progress, development and prosperity of all societies, she added.
Since 1961, the year where the first female Arab judge was appointed in Morocco, there has been a general positive current trend in women's access to the judiciary in the Arab world from, and even at the level of international judicial and judicial institutions, HE Sheikha Alia said.
She highlighted Qatar's achievements in the field of empowering women, preserving their rights, and ensuring equality between them and men, pointing out that the Qatari constitution and law fully guarantees justice and equality among all citizens, without discrimination under any consideration or background whatsoever.
HE Sheikha Alia bint Ahmed bin Saif al-Thani underlined the effective role played by the wise leadership of Qatar, represented by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, within the framework of encouraging women and girls, and providing them with opportunities in the fields of public life, occupations and entrepreneurship in all fields, including the judiciary.
HE Sheikha Alia saluted the generation of pioneering Qatari women in the judiciary, especially Dr Hissa al-Sulaiti, who is a graduate of QU's College of Law, and was appointed by an Amiri decree in 2010 as the first woman judge in the Qatar. HE Sheikha Alia stressed that Dr al-Sulaiti's experience has inspired many women and girls to join the judiciary in Qatar.
She called on young female jurists and Qatari law students to take the initiative, especially since the future and opportunities are open to them, indicating that Qatar is working with determination to raise the percentage of women in the judiciary to 30% by 2030, in accordance with Qatar National Vision.
HE Sheikha Alia said the issue of empowering women in the judiciary must remain a constant item on the priority agenda, explaining that equality in participation, inclusive institutions, and gender justice are the pillars of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development.
She commended women judges, calling them to exert more efforts in networking and to weave effective relations and partnerships among them through professional associations to raise capabilities and professional development, in addition to assisting and guiding young women lawyers who wish to join the field of justice.
HE Sheikha Alia concluded her speech by saying that the most important advice she can offer young Qatari women lies in the need to show initiative, responsibility, ambition, will, patience, and positivity.
She highlighted the abundance of opportunities and a promising future, emphasising Qatar's ambitions, especially since hosting a remarkably unprecedented edition of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.