A recent conference in Nairobi brought together over 100 women for an intergenerational dialogue, in which two alumnae shared their experiences after graduation. According to the African Women’s Development and Communications Network (FEMNET), While women constitute an average of 40% of judges across the continent, their representation thins at the upper ranks of power, where the most consequential decisions are made.Under the theme Women Leading in Shaping Justice Across Generations, women from different sectors across the legal and justice field recently met in Nairobi, Kenya, for a conference co-hosted by FEMNET and Co-Impact.

Thanks to this platform for problem-solving and movement-building, participants reflected on and exchanged solutions to systemic barriers (e.g., patriarchal laws, institutional sexism, new digital-age obstacles) to leadership in Africa. But throughout generations, African women have shown resilience. As stated by The Reporter Ethiopia, At the heart of this exchange is a call for structured mentorship and coaching, recognizing that continuity of leadership in justice can only be ensured when knowledge is intentionally transferred.

Our GC Africa Programme (HRDA) was represented by Dr Michelle Maziwisa, programme manager, and two alumnae of different generations committed to women’s rights and gender justice. Awa Gai (2023 cohort), a feminist laywer from The Gambia, conducted in-depth research during her master’s programme on advancing access to justice for women in her country using transitional justice mechanisms. Her work earned her third place in the Dean’s Essay Competition at the Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria.

Source: https://www.gchumanrights.org/gc-news/gender-leadership-in-law-africa-alumnae/