The judges addressed issues such as human trafficking, migration, inclusive justice, vulnerable people, litigants with disabilities, gender-based violence in the courts, cyber-violence and alternatives implemented in the justice system before the COVID-19.
Una delegación del Poder Judicial dominicano participó en la Conferencia Bienal 2023 “Mujeres Juezas: Logros y Desafíos», que organiza la Asociación Internacional de Mujeres Juezas (IAWJ) y la Unión de Mujeres Juezas Marroquíes (UMWJ), realizada en Marrakech, Marruecos.
The commission was headed by Judge Vanessa Acosta, judge of the Civil Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice (SCJ), and from the Judicial Council, counselor Modesto Martinez. The activity was also attended by a representation of current and retired judges of the Dominican Judicial Branch.
El tema general desarrollado de la conferencia fue «Mujeres jueces: logros y desafíos», con subtemas de trauma y resiliencia, hermandad y solidaridad e innovación y liderazgo.
During the working sessions, initiatives from around the world designed to ensure inclusive justice for minority groups, unrepresented litigants, youth, parties and witnesses affected by a disability, and litigants who do not speak the language of the court were raised.
Also, the treatment of gender-based violence in the courts, both in criminal and family law cases. Topics included institutional abuse of people in care and cyber-violence.
The panels also focused on issues such as the relationship between migration and human trafficking, understanding that migrants can become victims of trafficking at the hands of those who are paid to cross a national border.
They discussed innovative ways in which judicial diversity will be fostered around the world, alternative sentencing models and other initiatives in the way criminal cases are handled, including solution-focused judges, the role of specialized courts such as drug and homeless courts, and the involvement of communities in rehabilitation.
Innovations that emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic and other crises, and those that led to long-term change, were also raised during the sessions.
The International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ) is a charitable corporation registered in the District of Columbia, dedicated to the protection and promotion of human rights and in particular those of women and girls, committed to upholding the rule of law and the concept of equal justice everywhere and for all. IAWJ was founded in 1991 and now has more than 6,000 members from some 100 jurisdictions around the world and from all levels of the judicial hierarchy.
