International Day of Women Judges 2026
Women Judges on the Bench and Beyond: Protecting Access to Justice
On March 10, 2026, the International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ) marked the fifth annual International Day of Women Judges through a series of global engagements highlighting the leadership of women judges on the bench and beyond.
Across webinars, side events, and in-person convenings held in connection with CSW70, the IAWJ and its partners explored how women judges strengthen judicial institutions, expand access to justice, and contribute to more inclusive and responsive legal systems worldwide.
IAWJ Board Statement on the International Day of Women Judges
On the occasion of the International Day of Women Judges 2026, the IAWJ Board issued a statement reaffirming its commitment to advancing women’s leadership in the judiciary and protecting access to justice worldwide.
Read the Board Statement
Event Highlights & Outcomes
Explore highlights, reports, and visual moments from IAWJ’s International Day of Women Judges 2026 and CSW70 engagements.
Click on each event to expand for more details
International Day of Women Judges Networking Reception
March 10, 2026 • 4:00 PM EST • New York City
A gathering convening members, partners, and supporters to celebrate women judges’ leadership and reaffirm the global importance of protecting access to justice.
Location: Rockefeller Foundation – NYC Convening Lab (2nd Floor) | 420 5th Ave, New York, NY 10018
The reception provided an opportunity for relationship-building and reflection among judges, partners, and advocates working to advance women’s judicial leadership across regions.
Women Judges Beyond the Bench: Why, When, and How?
March 10, 2026 • 8:00 AM EST • Online
Held in observance of the International Day of Women Judges 2026, this webinar explored the vital role women judges play beyond the courtroom—as leaders, educators, and advocates advancing access to justice.
This discussion highlighted the broader leadership role of women judges in shaping institutions, mentoring future generations, and defending access to justice beyond formal court settings.
Women Judges Holding the Line: Strengthening Women’s Justice Leadership Through the Gender Justice Platform
March 12, 2026 • 9:00–10:30 AM EST • NYC & Online
Convened on the margins of CSW70, this side event explored how the Gender Justice Platform supports women’s leadership in justice systems through institutional reform, regional judicial networks, and data-driven accountability.
Location: UNDP HQ (304 East 45th Street, Doha Room, FF Building, 11th Floor) & Online
Co-hosted by: UNDP, UN Women, IAWJ, and GQUAL
Speakers examined concrete pathways to strengthen women’s justice leadership through institutional partnerships, regional collaboration, and stronger mechanisms for accountability and reform.
Women’s Equal Right to Participate in the Judiciary and Women’s Access to Justice: More Women, More Access
March 10, 2026 • 6:15–7:30 PM EST • New York
This roundtable explored how increasing women’s participation in the judiciary strengthens access to justice, judicial legitimacy, and public trust.
Location: Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP (425 Lexington Ave, New York, NY)
The roundtable underscored the relationship between women’s participation in the judiciary and stronger justice outcomes, emphasizing representation as a core dimension of equal access to justice.
Access to Justice for Women and Girls: Strategies, Pathways and Good Practice
March 16, 2026 • 3:00–4:15 PM EST • New York
This CSW70 side event examined barriers women and girls face in accessing justice and highlighted strategies and investments needed to strengthen justice systems and advance gender equality.
Location: Conference Room 11, United Nations Headquarters, New York & UN Web TV Live Stream
This discussion focused on practical strategies, policy pathways, and promising practices to address barriers to justice and strengthen systems that respond more effectively to the realities facing women and girls.
Key Takeaways from IDWJ 2026 & CSW70
- Women judges play a critical role not only on the bench, but also as institutional leaders, mentors, and public advocates for justice.
- Greater representation of women in judicial systems strengthens legitimacy, public trust, and access to justice.
- Institutional change requires collaboration across judicial networks, multilateral actors, civil society, and national stakeholders.
- Global conversations at CSW70 reaffirmed the importance of investing in gender-responsive justice systems and sustained women’s leadership.
Support the IAWJ
Following the success of the International Day of Women Judges 2026 campaign, your support helps sustain and expand IAWJ’s global work to advance women’s leadership in the judiciary and protect access to justice.
Just $10 a month can:
- Expand access to programming on inclusion and equality in local languages
- Provide support to judges who make courageous decisions to protect gender equality and the rule of law—often at risk to themselves and their families
- Support programs that break down country-specific barriers to justice for women and girls
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