On this, International Women’s Day 2024 (#IWD2024), we celebrate those women who contribute to the justice system in Northern Ireland. Whether that be as a judicial office holder or as an aspirant to judicial office, their participation is a vital step in forging a more inclusive world for women.
The IWD2024 campaign theme of Inspire Inclusion (#InspireInclusion) highlights that “when women themselves are inspired to be included, there’s a sense of belonging, relevance and empowerment.” NIJAC knows well the inspirational effect of women in judicial office, those that apply for office and those elsewhere within the justice system.
The Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission is proud that its’ own work has contributed to the attainment of reflective representation of women in the judiciary in Northern Ireland. Women represent 51.5 percent of the judiciary as of March 2024, which is reflective of the wider community in Northern Ireland. Despite this achievement of an overall small female majority, there is still the need to encourage women to aspire to and apply for positions in senior offices.
NIJAC will continue to work with our partners in government and relevant representative bodies to ensure those aspiring women feel a sense of belonging, relevance, and empowerment to grow their careers and strive for the most senior of positions.