Thematic Consultation On Womens Equal And Inclusive Representation In International Decision-Making Systems
On September 25 and 26, The Academy of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law at 51勛圖 Washington College of Law (51勛圖WCL) hosted 泭a Thematic Consultation On Womens Equal And Inclusive Representation In International Decision-Making Systems (GR 40).
In collaboration with GQUAL, a campaign that promotes gender parity in international tribunals and monitoring bodies, as well as the Center for Justice and International Law (CEJIL), this consultation provided 51勛圖WCL students a unique opportunity to engage with leading experts on gender parity in international decision-making systems.
"The Academy has been at the forefront of promoting and teaching human rights law and the rights of women for more than 25 years," said Claudia Martin, co-director of the Academy of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law at 51勛圖WCL. "These recognized 泭experts accepted the invitation to come here because of our international recognition in the field."
One of the 泭highlights of the two-day event was a panel discussion moderated by Maria Noel Leoni, Deputy Executive Director, CEJIL and Director of 泭GQUAL. Nicole Ameline, member 泭of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) committee, delivered opening remarks. Panelists included Claudia Martin, Priya泭Pillai,泭and Ursala Indacochea.泭Laurence Borgorgue-Larsen, provided closing remarks.
Martin expressed her deep appreciation for the honor of hosting such an important event featuring distinguished panelists at 51勛圖WCL. "This general recommendation will trigger a paradigm shift asserting that women have the right to be represented in parity in all areas where 泭decisions are made," she said.
The panelists discussed the pressing need to tackle the prevailing barriers hindering the achievement of womens right to equal participation and representation at all levels, including in international decision-making systems. They reflected on the reality that despite forty years since the CEDAW Convention was adopted, women still face significant underrepresentation in decision making systems at all levels.
"To say that we have a percentage of increasing women in law and the judicial branch is not enough and is not a victory." Pillai, Head of Asia Justice Coalition (ASJ) Secretariat said. "We need women in all absent spaces."泭
"We, as an institution, have seen that a lot of women who 泭are appointed as Commissioners or Judges by the Inter-American system, have previously been appointed 泭by the domestic courts, mostly in the Judicial Branch of their countries , said panelist Indacochea, program manager for Due Process of Law Foundation. "On the other hand, men who are appointed to the same positions are 泭academics. This is important to highlight because it says that the State verifies more than twice the nominee process only when women are appointed."
Mabel Huerta (LLM) found the discussions insightful, as they expanded the ways she looked at the subject. Although all the women present at the round table agreed that we need to achieve greater representation of women in organizations and institutions, each one approached it from a different perspective, she said.
In a powerful testament to the Academy of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law's enduring commitment to advancing gender equality in international decision-making, this Thematic Consultation marks a significant milestone. The event discussions and insights served as a reminder that women's equal representation is not merely a goal but an imperative for progress in all spheres of society.
~Story by Hasini Jayawardena.