Ashraf SiddiquiDohaThe first International Day of Women Judges was marked by the Supreme Judiciary Council of Qatar in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Global Judicial Integrity Network.The International Day of Women Judges is a Qatari initiative presented through a draft resolution in United Nations General Assembly by the Permanent Representative of Qatar to United Nations, Sheikha Alya bint Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani.The75th session of the United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted the resolution.Present on the occasion to mark the first International Day of Women Judges were H. E. Dr. Hassan bin Lahdan bin Hassan Al Mohannadi, President of the Supreme Judiciary Council and President of Court of Cassation, judges, officials of Supreme Judiciary Council, Natalie A. Baker, Charge d’ Affaires, US Embassy in Qatar, and a number of Qatari women professionals.A panel of four leading Qatari women professionals discussed their professional career journeys as well as the environment of Qatar on empowering women.The panel discussion was moderated by Susan L. Karamanian, Dean of Law at College of Law, Hamad bin Khaifa University, Qatar Foundation.The participants included Amal Al Mannai, CEO, Qatar Foundation for Social Work, Hessa Al-Sulaiti, the first Qatari Woman Judge, Judge Aisha Al Emmadi, and Noor Al-Hashemi of the Public Prosecution Department.In his opening speech, Dr. Hassan bin Lahdan bin Hassan Al Mohannadi laid stress on supporting women in their professional growth and development in all sectors specially the judiciary.He said that empowering women in our society is important for realising the long term sustainable development goals.The panel members discussed their journey through professional career. They also discussed various challenges faced by them in the beginning. All participants applauded the government for creating an environment for women to choose their career and empowering them.Talking to Qatar Tribune, Amal Al Mannai highlighted the importance of adopting 10th of March as International Women Judges Day with the clear aim to enhance the judicial integrity, women empowerment and a balance in judicial sector.The first Qatari woman judge, Hessa Al-Sulaiti, affirmed to Qatar Tribune the importance of awareness in the society about the importance of the role of women in various sectors as well as the role of the state in empowering them. She lauded Qatar’s initiative for adoption of ‘International Women Judges Day’ under United Nations umbrella at the global level.Judge Aisha Al Emadi said that although in beginning of her career, there were challenges, however, with the support of the society and woman empowerment policies of the government, she overcame them. Today, Qatari women are performing their roles in various sectors which shows the confidence the state reposes in them.Noor Al-Hashemi who has served for around 10 years in Qatar Foundation Social Work Division, moved to the Public Prosecution. She expressed her gratitude to the state policies for empowering women which helped her and other women working in various fields to overcome the challenges.Earlier, Hessa Al Sulaiti, the first Qatari woman judge inaugurated the slogan of the International Day of Women Judges before the opening of the panel discussion.Talking to Qatar Tribune exclusively, moderator Susan L. Karamanian, Dean of Law at the College of Law, HBKU said that Qatari government has provided enormous opportunities to the women in Qatar, including top notch education.She said that equality of women in the education sector can be seen in both the Qatar University and Hamad bin Khalifa University with more than 50 percent of the students being women. Then there is substantial support of Qatari leadership to general equality among men and women, which is giving shape to the society. Moreover, there is sense of community support to both men and women in equal measure.“We are all here to try to achieve certain objectives to make a better country, better society, better humans”, she said. She added that she can see that women have a strong sense in this regard that is reflected in the positions they are holding and ensuring that jobs are done smoothly and professionally, which in turn reflects well on the society.