Natalia Vitela/ Agencia Reforma
Sunday, May 14, 2023 | 11:49
CDMX.- The president of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN), Minister Norma Piña, received the 2023 Human Rights Award in Morocco this Sunday, awarded by the International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ), and in his speech he highlighted the independence and autonomy in judicial decisions.
The IAWJ award is recognized with the vote of more than 10,400 judges and allies in 143 countries around the world, the Supreme Court released in a statement.
In the case of Minister Piña, who is also president of the Federal Judicial Council, the award was given “for the commitment assumed to ensure the implementation of human rights principles and other significant references to advance justice for women, girls , children and families”, indicated the Court.
Upon receiving the medal, Minister Norma Piña considered that, together with her colleagues from the IAWJ, she is part of “a common front for the defense of democratic constitutionality in our countries; for the defense of independence and judicial autonomy as bulwarks of our liberties”.
“The only way for our jurisdictional function to establish itself as a mechanism for the protection of human rights, of our constitutional democracies, is that we can carry it out freely, without pressure or conditioning. Our only pressure must be to comply with and enforce the Fundamental Laws that our countries have decided to give themselves, as well as the international commitments assumed.
“Today, I put on the table the importance of judicial independence as the guarantee of these rights, because its realization requires that the administration of justice be without any internal or external subordination. The recognition that I am granted today I understand as a recognition of my Country. To Mexican men and women committed to the rule of law,” he said.
Minister Piña called on her peers to remain united in the defense of human rights in favor of women and in the face of “anxiety due to the fragility of what has been won.”
“Without you, the women -those who preceded me and those who are beginning- I would not have been able to break the glass ceiling in my Country. It is also clear to me that, in difficult times, in times of definition, unity is key. We have many and very strong reasons for unity. We are united by the defense of human rights. We have each other as judges. We have each other as women,” she said.
The Minister acknowledged that she meets every two years with her peers from the International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ).
In the week ending, the organization held its 16th biennial conference in Morocco, the main theme of which was “Women Judges: Achievements and Challenges” with sub-themes of trauma and resilience, sisterhood and solidarity, and innovation and leadership.
In this meeting, organized every two years, discussion is promoted to promote better jurisdictional practices, informed the Supreme Court.
During this biennial, leaders in the jurisdictional field are also distinguished through recognitions that are granted by nomination of the judges that are part of the IAWJ, as was the case of Minister Norma Piña.
Founded 30 years ago, this global network of women judges aims to promote equality around the world, through the construction of safe spaces for women judges; training and curricula on issues of human trafficking and LGBTQ rights, among others.
In addition, the Association works with foreign governments to promote institutional changes and reforms.
Other awarded
In some previous biennials, other judges have been recognized with the Human Rights award, the SCJN reported:
– Bertha Wilson (1998), was the first female judge of the Supreme Court of Canada.
– Navanethem Pillay (2000), South African jurist, was United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights from 2008 to 2014.
– Arline Pacht (2002), founding member of the DIAW of the United States.
– Gertrude Mongella (2004), was the first president of the Pan-African Parliament, created in 2004.
– Carmen Argibay (2006), Minister of the Supreme Court of Justice of Argentina.
– Esmeralda Arosemena de Troitiño (2008), currently a commissioner of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
Elena Highton (2010), was a minister of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Argentine Nation from 2004 to 2021.
– Claire L’ Hereux Dubé (2012), second woman appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada, from 1987 to 2002.
– Sanji Monageng (2014), judge of the International Criminal Court in The Hague from 2009 to 2018.
– Patricia Wald (2016), was the first woman on the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.
– Ruth Bader Ginsburg (2018), second justice appointed to the United States Supreme Court.
– Silvia Cartwright (2021), New Zealand jurist, who was also Governor General of her country.
