Moroccan Judge Mina Sougrati Elected President of International Association of Women Judges Moroccan Judge Mina Sougrati Elected President of International Association of Women Judges

Rabat – Moroccan judge Mina Sougrati has made history by becoming the first Arab woman to be elected President of the International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ). Her election took place on April 9 during the IAWJ’s biennial conference in Cape Town, South Africa.

Judge Sougrati’s new role is a “powerful recognition of her leadership, integrity, and commitment to the judiciary,” the US Consulate General in Casablanca said in a press release.

With over 15 years of experience, Sougrati has worked in Morocco’s administrative courts and has been a strong advocate for women’s rights, human rights, and judicial integrity.

In recognition of her achievement, US Consul General in Casablanca, Marissa Scott, hosted a special reception in her honor on April 22. The event also celebrated the strong partnership between Morocco and the US in the area of justice.

The statement recalled that the US government has supported Judge Sougrati’s work since 2016, when she joined a Moroccan women judges’ delegation at the IAWJ’s conference in Washington, D.C.

That experience led to the creation of the Union of Moroccan Women Judges (UMWJ), which Sougrati now leads. The UMWJ is now an important national branch of the IAWJ and works to promote women’s leadership in Morocco’s judicial system.

Moroccan judge Mina Sougrati and US Consul General in Casablanca, Marissa Scott

Her election follows the success of the 2023 IAWJ conference held in Marrakech, which was the first in-person gathering since the COVID-19 pandemic. That event brought together more than 1,200 women judges from around the world, including 75 from Morocco and 75 from the US, and strengthened Morocco’s reputation as a regional hub for legal dialogue and reform.

The consulate added that Sougrati’s new leadership position and the ongoing work of the UMWJ reflect the close cooperation between Morocco and the US in justice and security matters.

“Judge Sougrati’s new leadership role underscores Morocco’s commitment to excellence in the judiciary. We look forward to continued collaboration in strengthening judicial institutions,” said Scott.

Meanwhile, Sougrati said that this honor belongs not only to her, “but to every Moroccan woman who has fought for justice, equality, and dignity in the courtroom and beyond.”