About CCIAWJ
February 8, 2021 2024-07-15 23:16About CCIAWJ
President’s Message
Justice Mara Greene
President CCIAWJ, Ontario Court of Justice
I am honoured to serve as the president for The Canadian Chapter of the International Association of Women Judges (CCIAWJ) and excited for all that our chapter is going to do over the next two years.
Our association works closely with The International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ), which is a non-profit, non-government organization whose members represent all level of the judiciary worldwide. The IAWJ has over 6000 members in 100 countries. The CCIAWJ and the IAWJ are committed to advancing gender equality and an inclusive legal system which enhances human rights for all.
The CCIAWJ engages in a number of programs that serve to advance our goals of equality and inclusion. For example, in June 2024 the CCIAWJ partnered with NJI to run a three-day program on equality in the legal system. The CCIAWJ also partnered with law societies across the country to conduct roundtables addressing the retention of women in the practice of law. Subcommittees focusing on national mentorship and methods of combating discrimination have been developed as a result of these roundtables.
The CCIAWJ is also involved in supporting women law students through our “Evening with Women Judges” program and providing scholarships for law students identifying as female. Past scholarships include a scholarship to the Law School at the University of Victoria and the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University. We presently have a scholarship for three years at the Faculty of Law at the University of Manitoba.
Over the next year, the CCIAWJ plans to continue assisting our sister judges from Afghanistan, supporting women law students and developing additional programs to advance equality in the legal system.
In April 2025, the IAWJ biannual conference is in Cape Town, South Africa. As members of the CCIAWJ, you are also members of the IAWJ and can register for what will be an incredible conference. The education is exceptional and there is nothing like being in a room with 900 judges from all over the world.
The CCIAWJ has many volunteer opportunities including working on content for our webpage, assisting in membership communication and outreach, attending our student events or joining our projects committee. I encourage all members to reach out to me or other members of our board to become more involved with the CCIAWJ. Our work is meaningful and rewarding. It is also a great way to connect with colleagues across the country. I am grateful for the friendships I have made through the CCIAWJ and feel privileged to have the opportunity to connect and collaborate with so many incredible women.