The Journal of the South African Chapter of the International Association of Women Judges

Empowered women empowering women

Promoted during Women’s Month in 2022 as part of the celebration of women in society, this journal has been officially launched on 24 January 2023. Highlighting the unique power of female judicial officers to impact, enhance, and enforce the rights of the vulnerable throughout judicial structures, but especially to protect and empower other women, this collaboration promises to step up to the mantle as a leader in the legal space.

WHAT IS THE FUNCTION OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN CHAPTER OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN JUDGES (SAC–IAWJ)?

• Contributing towards the promotion of human rights and equality;
   
• Enhancing the administration of justice for the benefit of all including access to justice;
   
• Encouraging and implementing strategies to achieve gender equality and full participation of women in the justice system;
   
• Supporting programmes and activities to discourage violence and abuse in our society with a particular focus on violence against women, children and other vulnerable groups;
   
• Assisting in the provision of public legal education and information programmes.
   

Juta was thrilled to partner with the SAC-IAWJ on this journal to establish a platform that allows women in law, amenable male jurists, and other relevant authorities to engage. This will be the first of many opportunities for knowledge and expertise around legal topics and pertinent gender-related issues to be dispensed, and the journal will be published annually.

The January launch saw wonderful support from all sides at the Constitutional Hill Precinct, starting with a guided tour of the Women’s Gaol, followed by esteemed guest speakers, Deputy Chief Justice Mandisa Maya and former Constitutional Court Judge Yvonne Mokgoro. It was also the perfect opportunity to launch the Institute for African Women in Law’s research study on women in law and leadership in the South African bar, bench, and legal academy.

Our hope is that the inception of this will encourage the continued improvement and development of quality legal research, as well as develop new thought leaders to come into the space under the umbrella of the SAC-IAWJ.

Additionally, we look forward to citizens familiarising themselves with it – after all, if knowledge is power, knowledge shared is power multiplied. With the accessibility of such insight, we anticipate the ability to inform and educate all elements of the public, igniting debate amongst role-players within our communities to resolve societal challenges on all levels.

HOW DOES THIS PUBLICATION PROMOTE AND SUPPORT WOMEN IN LAW?

This publication embodies the objectives of the SAC-IAWJ as well as:

• Striving to close the communication gap between the Higher and Lower Courts
   
• Encouraging women jurists to improve their research and writing skills
   
• Enlarging the pool of thought leaders in the legal field
   
• Supporting the dissemination of their work more widely
   

WATCH NOW: Interview with Editor-in-Chief and Chair of the Board of the journal, Judge President of the Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa, Justice Mandisa Maya, Department of Jurisprudence at the University of Pretoria and Managing Editor of the journal Professor Ntombizozuko ‘Zozo’ Dyani-Mhango, and Judge of the Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa Justice Baratang Constance Mocumie, who also sits on the Board of the journal.

To reach out to us or for more information about the journal which is available in print and digital format as of February 2023, please contact orders@juta.co.za