Women are making strong gains in judiciary: SC judge

ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb on Saturday said women had made notable progress in the legal profession, with their presence in the judiciary and legal practice increasing significantly and enabling them to play an important role in the justice system.

He was speaking at the National Women Lawyers Conference held at the Federal Judicial Academy (FJA) in Islamabad under the European Union-funded Deliver Justice Project. During his address, Justice Aurangzeb highlighted the development of Pakistan’s legal and institutional framework aimed at safeguarding women’s rights. He referred to protections against workplace harassment, denial of inheritance rights, and newer forms of electronic and gender-based violence.

The judge said legislation by itself was not enough and stressed the importance of proper enforcement of laws. He also underscored the need to strengthen investigative capacity so that victims could receive timely justice and those responsible could be held accountable.

Justice Aurangzeb also praised the role of the European Union, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Federal Judicial Academy for encouraging dialogue, awareness and capacity-building on issues affecting women in the justice sector.

Conference focuses on inclusion and online safety

Welcoming participants, FJA Director General Hayat Ali Shah said he was encouraged by the participation of women lawyers from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Islamabad, adding that their presence reflected the expanding role of women in Pakistan’s legal field.

He reaffirmed the academy’s commitment to promoting gender-inclusive justice through education, training and professional development. In this connection, he referred to initiatives undertaken by the institution, including the International Judicial Conference on Inclusive Justice and a recently launched e-course for young lawyers.

Hayat Ali Shah also said that respect for women was both a legal obligation and a moral responsibility, and urged participants to take guidance from the teachings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), which, he said, reflect the values of dignity, equality and respect.

Earlier, Sadia Hanif, programme associate at UNDP Pakistan, presented reflections on the outcomes of the previous Women Lawyers Conference. The event also included an orientation session by Nadia Ali, head of the Gender Team at UNDP Pakistan.

Speakers at the conference stressed the need for safer online spaces for women and marginalised groups, greater investment in women’s leadership in the legal profession, and stronger institutional readiness to respond effectively to technology-facilitated gender-based violence.