New York - Media & Communication Dept. - March 15

HE Permanent Representative of the State 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 and enlightenment of 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.
This came in a speech delivered by Her Excellency during a conference under the title 'Arab Women in the Judiciary: Achievements and Challenges,' organized by the International Center for Human Sciences (under the auspices of UNESCO), in cooperation 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 bint Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani commended the constructive institutional partnership through which the conference was organized, which comes in celebration of these two high-profile occasions that are linked to achievements that are a source of pride for the State of Qatar represented by the International Day of Women Judges initiative launched by the State of Qatar at the second high-level meeting of the Global Judicial Integrity Network, from Feb. 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), at the initiative and efforts of the State of Qatar, where the permanent delegation in New York drafted the draft resolution and mobilized the necessary international support for it, noting 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, Her Excellency said.
HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations 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 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 and trend in women's access to the judiciary in the Arab world from, and even at the level of international judicial and judicial institutions, Her Excellency said.
HE Permanent Representative of Qatar to UN highlighted the State of 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 guarantee 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 the State of Qatar, represented by HH 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 judicial field.
Her Excellency 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 State of Qatar, stressing 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 the State of Qatar is working with determination to raise the percentage of women in the judiciary to 30 percent by 2030, in accordance with Qatar National Vision.
Her Excellency affirmed that 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 Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Sheikha Alia bint Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani concluded her speech by saying that the most important commandment that 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 the brightness of the promising future, emphasizing the absence of limits around the State of Qatar's ambitions, especially since the organization of the remarkably unprecedented edition of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 is a clear indication in this context.