Gender-related issues can significantly affect judicial integrity, often in ways that are systemic, subtle and deeply embedded in institutional culture. These issues may manifest through corruption involving sexual favours, gender-based stereotyping and discrimination or inappropriate conduct such as sexual harassment - each of which can undermine ethical standards and the key judicial values. Moreover, women in the judiciary often face additional barriers to advancement, including underrepresentation in leadership and persistent gender-based biases.
While gender-related challenges may go unnoticed due to their normalization within institutions or broader society, addressing them is essential to building a judiciary that is fair, inclusive and reflective of the communities it serves.
Developed by the Global Judicial Integrity Network, this resource explores how gender-related challenges can impact judicial integrity, drawing on real-life cases and examples. It considers how gender influences court administration and public perceptions of the judiciary, while also examining the adequacy of existing safeguards in promoting appropriate conduct and taking corrective action. The paper offers practical recommendations and highlights the importance of clear ethical rules, effective accountability mechanisms and comprehensive training – tools that can assist both individual judges and judicial institutions in fostering a more equitable and integrity-driven environment.
Christine Njagi, a principal magistrate at the Kibera Law Courts in Nairobi, Kenya, believes that getting more women to participate in the justice system all boils down to one thing – education. Herself a member of UNODC's mentorship programme, Magistrate Njagi is a firm supporter of continued growth through education.
People with disabilities often face significant barriers in society, and the judiciary is no exception. From navigating physical spaces that lack accessible infrastructure to confronting biases about their capabilities, individuals with disabilities encounter many challenges.
UNODC | 2020
“The Time is Now” is UNODC’s flagship publication on the gender dimensions of corruption, which laid the foundation for the Office’s work in this arena. The publication explores how corruption feeds inequality (and vice versa) and showcases the integrity dividends of diverse decision-making bodies and inclusive anti-corruption mechanisms.
