Samia to grace TAWJA 25th anniversary

DAR ES SALAAM: PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan is expected to grace the 25th anniversary of the Tanzania Women Judges Association (TAWJA), scheduled for January next year at the Arusha International Conference Centre (AICC) in Arusha.

Speaking to journalists in Dar es Salaam, TAWJA Chairperson and Court of Appeal Judge, Barke Sehel said the association will celebrate its 25th anniversary under the theme, “Celebrating Diversity in Solidarity for Gender Equality.”

Judge Sehel said the key attendees will include representatives from the International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ), judiciary leaders including Chief Justice Prof Ibrahim Juma, Chief Justice of Zanzibar, Minister for Constitution and Legal Affairs Dr Damas Ndumbaro and judges and magistrates from courts across the country.

“We invite the general public to join us, as we will have various activities from January 19th to 24th, 2025. Moreover, we will host a marathon event, where the Speaker of Parliament, Dr Tulia Ackson, will be the guest of honour,” said Judge Sehel.

She further explained that TAWJA, founded in 2000, aims to promote human rights and gender equality particularly for women and children, while also empowering its members professionally.

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“This association comprises female judges and magistrates from all levels of the judiciary, including Primary Courts, District Courts, Resident Magistrate Courts, the High Court and the Court of Appeal, both in mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar,” she added.

Retired High Court Judge Sophia Wambura, who also chairs the National Organising Committee for the celebrations, said the chosen theme reflects the significant progress made in advancing gender equality within the judiciary since the association’s inception in 2000.

“At the time of TAWJA’s founding, gender equality in our judiciary was in a dire state. There were no female judges in the Court of Appeal and only three in the High Court, and 30 female magistrates across all court levels. In total, there were only 40 female judicial officers at the time,” she recalled.

“Today, 25 years later, significant progress has been made. For instance, out of 36 judges in the Court of Appeal, 13 are women. In the High Court, out of 110 judges, 34 are women. While there is still a notable gap, these numbers indicate substantial progress towards gender equality in the judiciary,” Judge Wambura stated.