Moroccan judge mina sougrati makes history as president of international association of women judges

Moroccan judge mina sougrati has etched her name in history by becoming the first Arab woman elected to the presidency of the International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ). This significant milestone was achieved on April 9 during the IAWJ’s biennial conference held in Cape Town, South Africa.

The US Consulate General in Casablanca hailed judge sougrati’s election as “a powerful recognition of her leadership, integrity, and commitment to the judiciary.” With over 15 years of experience, she has served within Morocco’s administrative courts and has been a formidable advocate for women’s rights, human rights, and judicial integrity.

In celebration of her accomplishment, US Consul General in Casablanca, marissa scott, hosted a special reception on April 22. This event not only honored sougrati but also highlighted the robust partnership between Morocco and the US in the realm of justice.

The consulate’s statement noted that the US government has been a steadfast supporter of sougrati’s work since 2016, when she participated in a Moroccan women judges’ delegation at the IAWJ’s conference in Washington, D.C. This pivotal experience contributed to the establishment of the Union of Moroccan Women Judges (UMWJ), which sougrati now leads. The UMWJ has become an integral national branch of the IAWJ, dedicated to promoting women’s leadership within Morocco’s judicial system.

Her election follows the successful 2023 IAWJ conference in Marrakech, which marked the first in-person gathering since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This event attracted over 1,200 women judges globally, including 75 from Morocco and 75 from the US, further solidifying Morocco’s reputation as a regional hub for legal discourse and reform.

The consulate emphasized that sougrati’s new leadership role, alongside the ongoing initiatives of the UMWJ, exemplifies the close cooperation between Morocco and the US in justice and security matters. “Judge sougrati’s new leadership role underscores Morocco’s commitment to excellence in the judiciary. We look forward to continued collaboration in strengthening judicial institutions,” stated scott.

In her acceptance of this esteemed position, sougrati remarked that this honor belongs not solely to her, “but to every Moroccan woman who has fought for justice, equality, and dignity in the courtroom and beyond.”