The General Assembly underlines that the adoption of gender mainstreaming in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Gender Equality, would contribute immensely to advance the achievement of all sustainable development goals and objectives.

The said resolution also consolidates the trend based on the active participation of women, on an equal basis with men, in decision-making at all levels, as an essential step to achieving equality, sustainable development, peace and democracy. In parallel with its commitment to develop and implement appropriate and effective national strategies and plans, in order to improve the position of women in judicial justice systems and institutions at the level of leadership and administrative ranks, among other things.

The celebration of the International Day of Women Judges by the Supreme Council of the Judicial Power promotes the presence of the Moroccan woman and her equal participation along men in the judiciary. She has always achieved important gains thanks to the care His Majesty Mohammed VI provided, since His accession to the throne of his blessed ancestors, for women’s rights and their cultural, social, political and economic status. The royal determination sought to strengthen their effective participation in the decision-making process, enable them to occupy the position they deserve in various fields, and allow them to assume leadership positions and benefit from the fruits of modernization and development. All of the foregoing are enshrined in the Moroccan constitution under the principles of gender equality and parity, without forgetting the establishment of equality between men and women in holding public positions.

His Majesty the King, may God protect him, expressed this in the lofty message addressed to the participants in the second global summit of “Women in Africa” initiative, on September 27, 2018 in Marrakesh, with the wise saying: “No country, economy, business or society can tackle today’s challenges, nor ensure optimal use of its resources and energies, without the full involvement of women.”

Ladies and Gentlemen;

The woman judge is a vital asset to our country. She entered the judiciary since the early sixties in the person of Amina Abdel Razek, after that the Dahir of 1958 on the Statute for Judges ensured the principle of equality between men and women in accessing the judiciary, under the same conditions and without excluding her from any of the judicial tasks.

In comparison with our regional surrounding, the Moroccan experience is considered a forward experience, as the integration of women into the judiciary in some countries in the region has been delayed for several decades. The enrolment of Moroccan women in the judiciary, since the early years of independence, has enabled her to contribute, along her male colleagues, in achieving the Moroccanization, Arabization and unification of the judiciary. This is due to the fact that when Moroccan women joined the judiciary, they were backed by a firm legal training, armed with a strong will, and driven by high patriotism. They were also motivated by the strong encouragement of families and the great welcome of citizens. This contributed to their rapid integration into a profession that for centuries had been the exclusive preserve of men. The Moroccan woman judge demonstrated her sophistication, intelligence, professionalism and seriousness, which enabled her, after years of hard work and fruitful perseverance, to enter prestigious judicial fields. The first woman judge in the Supreme Council (currently known as the Court of Cassation) was appointed as an attorney general in the person of Ms. Amina Benchakroun in 1987. Then the first time a woman judge was promoted to “grade exceptionnelle” was in 1995.

Confidence in the judicial scene has grown by its women, as they assumed positions of responsibility at the end of the nineties. In 1998, the first female President of the court of first instance in Rabat was appointed in the person of Ms. Leila El-Merini who had the honor to be subsequently appointed as a member of the Constitutional Court. 

They say that little drops of water make the mighty ocean, and women judges unflinchingly continued to hold positions of responsibility. During the same year, Ms. Asia Walalou was appointed the first female President of the commercial court (Rabat); Ms. Leila Benjelloun, the first female first-President of a commercial appellate court; Mrs. Malika Bensaoud, the first female first-President of the appellate court in Tetouan; and seven years ago, Malika Benzahir was appointed the first President of a chamber of the Court of Cassation, and a few months back, she had the honor to preside over a session assisted by all the chambers of the Court of Cassation, to be the first Moroccan woman judge to receive this honor.

On a similar note, seven departments in different chambers of the Court of Cassation were or still are headed by virtuous Moroccan judges, since Ms. Fatima Anther assumed the position for the first time.

With regard to lower courts, Moroccan women judges continued to lead the judicial body in their own right. Ms. Khadija Al-Bani was appointed the first female prosecutor of the King at the commercial court in Meknes in 2001, and paved the way for others. Ms. Rahmouna Zayani was appointed the first female prosecutor general of the King at the appellate commercial court in Fes in 2018. Ms. Rabiha Fath Al-Nour was appointed the first female prosecutor of the King at an ordinary court of first instance in Mohammadia in 2021. The list of women judges who assumed judicial and administrative positions of responsibility is long and replete with prominent judicial names, among them those who are currently assiduously and valiantly shouldering these tasks.

The track record of the Moroccan woman judge is littered with female judges who have assumed international positions, such as professor Saadia Belmir, who was became a member of the United Nations Committee for the Prevention of Torture for two terms; and Ms. Latifa Taoufik, President of the Appeals Board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Not to mention the golden record of the Moroccan judiciary shining with golden awards received by virtuous Moroccan judges, such as the “Heroin Award” of the report on trafficking in persons that Ms. Amina Oufroukhi was awarded in 2017 by the U.S. Department of State, in recognition of her pioneering contributions in the fight against human trafficking.

The Moroccan woman judge was also able to storm the fortress of the first established Supreme Council of the Judicial Power, courtesy of a wise royal decision provided by the 2011 constitution. History will proudly commend women judges who effectively contributed to the establishment of the first Council, namely Ms. Aisha Naciri, Ms. Magda Daoudi and Ms. Hajiba al-Bukhari. History will not also fail to recall women judges who replaced them in the current Council’s term, Ms. Amina El-Malki, Ms. Souad Koukass and Ms. Nezha Moussafir, who we wish them success in their noble mission, until the torch is handed over to other women judges, in the hope of reaching equality, God willing.

Certainly, the list of women’s names, such as these that were mentioned out of memory, would have been longer if we had gone back to the files and checked the archives of the former Supreme Council of the Judiciary. It is a task that I hope God would help me to accomplish with the assistance of our colleagues in the Supreme Council of the Judicial Power, in order to preserve the feminist judicial memory for future generations. The latter should be proud of the achievements of the righteous predecessors of the first Moroccan women judges, and their successful women successors who wrote and still write their names with the ink of the best judicial values, and with the pens of a staid legal culture, adorned with the lofty principles of justice.

In fact, esteemed ladies, distinguished gentlemen, I shall not succeed to list examples of successful, outstanding women judges, because they are numerous and cannot be counted. And those whose names I have mentioned are just a sample of this big sea of ​​ethical judicial capacities and eager feminist competencies. Perhaps, those whose names I referenced were pioneers, who stood out in certain judicial fields, and apologies are due to those whose names were not mentioned, as their actions are enough to speak for them.

You all know that the Moroccan judiciary persists to witness an increase in the number of women judges. From a few dozen in the sixties, the number rose to 304 female judges in 1996, a total of 2324, a proportion of no more than 13%. Then the number increased again in 1998 to 375 women judges out of 2,641, a proportion of 14.14%. And later to 592 female judges out of 3153, by 18.77% in 2005. Then to 611 female judges of 3188, a proportion of 19.16% in 2008. And to 683 female judges out of 3352, a ratio of 20.36% in 2010, and to 939 female judges out of 3999, estimated at 23.40% in 2014. Therefore, woman judges are now present in all Moroccan courts, no matter the degree or the type. The number of our female judges is currently 1,068, with a ratio of 25% (885 in the bench and 167 in the public prosecution). 55 of them are counselors at the Court of Cassation, and 4 are general attorneys attached to the same court. One of them is head of a chamber and 7 are heads of departments. There are also 102 female counselors in appellate courts (81 in the bench, and 21 in the public prosecution); 707 female judges in courts of first instance (581 in the bench and 126 in the public prosecution); 21 female judges in judicial centers (19 in the bench and 2 in the public prosecution); 13 female counselors to the appellate administrative courts; 30 female judges in administrative courts; 17 female counselors (bench) in the commercial courts of appeal (1 in the public prosecution); 71 female judges in commercial courts (58 in the bench and 13 in the public prosecutor). In addition to 47 female judges attached to administrative departments, councils, institutions and embassies.

Given this exuberant professional momentum and commanding numerical inventory, the Supreme Council of the Judicial Power, proud to be chaired by His Majesty the King, considers the celebration of the first International Day of Women Judges after its adoption by the United Nations, an opportunity to celebrate all Moroccan women judges, and to pay tribute to their remarkable achievements, their substantial input to the judiciary, and their unrivalled contributions to the consolidation of the principles of justice and judicial security. This is also an occasion to recall the vision of the Supreme Council of the Judicial Power to encourage women judges to compete for positions of judicial responsibility, in implementation of the constitution and the Moroccan law, and to recall the 37^th measure of the council’s strategic plan, which stipulates “striving towards parity in assigning responsibilities while taking into account efficiency and equal opportunities.”

It is a trend that the Council seeks to reinforce in view of the erudite legal expertise and high professional capabilities that Moroccan women judges have demonstrated. Besides, the presence of women in the judiciary is deemed an overriding matter due to their crucial position in the structure of society, along with establishing gender equality, professional parity, and equal opportunities for citizens, in line with of the principles of the Constitution. Not to mention the important social repercussions of this issue, making it a catalyst for the next generation of young women to achieve their goals and dreams of assuming leadership positions in their country.

Therefore, in the name of the Supreme Council of the Judicial Power, and on behalf of all the judges of our Kingdom, I am buoyed to extend my warmest congratulations to all Moroccan women judges, and all women judges in the world, on their international day. I thank our women judges for what they have given us, and for the great services they provide to the national judiciary, wishing them success in their profession, and stability and happiness in their lives.

I am honored to hand these red roses to our blooming judges here with us today, in recognition of your value, and as a token of the Council’s gratitude for your efforts.

Can roses that wither away in a few days express this gratitude? whilst your work goes down in the judicial history and can never wither with time?

And can roses which sent fades away so quickly honor your efforts which cannot fade from memory?

And can the attar of a rose and the scent of a flower embalm your glorious aura; when your fragrance is an embodiment of your devotion and dedication at court, and the burdened dockets breathe your odor which is pervaded by knowledge and justice?

Surely, all the roses of the world are not enough to express the Council’s gratitude and honor your efforts. However, the value of the rose gifted to you lies in its symbolism…it is a symbol of charm, beauty, delicacy, and tenderness; all of which represent your essence.

Flowers are presented to women on the most beautiful occasions and the nicest holidays. And every holiday you are celebrated is a feast for your fellow judges. You bestow happiness on your surroundings. Therefore, I thank you esteemed women judges. We wish you a Happy International Day of Women Judges.

As-salamu alaykum