To enhance the professional capacity of Georgian women judges, and support direct interactions with their colleagues from all over the world, the USAID Rule of Law Program supported two Georgian Judges – Ekaterine Zarnadze, Tbilisi Court of Appeals and Tamar Khazhomia, Tbilisi City Court to attend the 86th Biennial International Association of Women Judges’ (IAWJ) Conference in Morocco (May 11-15, 2023).

The conference gathered over a thousand women judges from 72 countries, including Georgia, in Marrakech to discuss the accomplishments and challenges faced by women judges worldwide.  The focus was on the significance of increasing the representation of women judges in promoting fair and equitable justice for all citizens.

Panel discussions covered a wide range of topics relevant to women judges, such as promoting leadership among women in the judiciary, initiatives for inclusive justice for marginalized groups and unrepresented litigants, addressing gender-based violence in criminal and family law cases, fostering diversity within the judiciary, and more. Attendees also shared their achievements and lessons learned, with special recognition given to those who made significant contributions in recent years.

The Georgian delegation, comprised of Judge Tamar Khazhomia, Judge Ekaterine Zarnadze (both members of the Women’s Rights Practice Group), Rule of Law Program Manager at USAID/Caucasus Rusudan Tabatadze, and USAID Rule of Law Program Judicial Reform Specialist, Eka Oniani actively participated in sessions that focused on the representatives from Europe and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The discussions revolved around exploring opportunities to expand Georgia's cooperation with the IAWJ.

Judge Khazhomia described the conference as a valuable opportunity to gain insights into different legal systems, cultural diversity, and the challenges and aspirations of female judges from various countries. “The conference fostered personal connections with international colleagues and reinforced the idea of strengthening ties among female judges in Europe. It was important for deepening legal knowledge, sharing values with individuals from diverse cultures, and expanding perspectives.” – said Judge Khazhomia.