International Association of Women Judges inaugurated

Accra, April 14, GNA - The Chief Justice Mrs. Georgina T. Wood on Wednesday inaugurated the International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ), Ghana Chapter, at a ceremony in Accra.

IAWJ is a non profit organisation with over 4,000 members at various judicial levels in more than 90 countries.

Established in 1991, IAWJ has united women judges from diverse legal systems who share a commitment to equal justice and the rule of law.

The Chief Justice said the formation of Ghana's Chapter known as Ghana International Association of Women Judges (GHIAWJ) was not intended to be a closed association of women judges who would respond only to the needs of women on the bench to the total exclusion of male colleagues and society at large.

"It is intended to equip us so that we can help to eliminate these stereotypical ideas, beliefs and values that could promote gender discrimination and remove obstacles to women and children's access to justice", she added.

She noted that gender justice sought among others the panoply of rights which had been recognized for the enjoyment of women and other marginalized groups and urged members to partner their male counterparts to ensure swift administration of justice for all.

The CJ told members that opportunities abound for them in terms of capacity building if they showed commitment to democratic values and principles of the rule of law, human rights, judicial integrity and accountability and transparency.

"I trust that our coming together would help us promote democracy and greater access to justice to the people of Ghana especially women and children and other disadvantaged groups."

The CJ assured their male counterparts of working together and asked them to join members to achieve the noble objectives of the association.

Ms. Rose C. Owusu, a Supreme Court judge and interim president of GHIAWJ noted that the formation of the association was another milestone in the advancement of Ghana's judiciary as well as gender activism.

Ms. Owusu said the formation of Ghana's Chapter,was in conformity of the country's judiciary's resolution to join and lend support to the world wide movement for the advancement of women's issues.

She said GHIAWJ would unite committed female judges in the country with other counterparts all over the world and promote the rule of law and eliminate violence and discrimination based on gender.

"Our aims and objectives are to ensure gender equality in accessing justice, ensuring fairness and equality in our various courts while making the judicial systems and procedures accessible to all; in particular women.

We also aim to exchange ideas and best practices with our colleague women judges from other jurisdiction to ensure that our courts are user friendly and that procedures are made less intimidating to all persons.''

Ms. Owusu said GHIAWJ would also increase the understanding of human rights laws and the role of the judiciary in laws that would protect and promote the rights of women.

Chief Justice Benjamin Odoki of Uganda congratulated GHIAWJ and urged members to continue to uphold the values of the country's constitution.