“It is with great pleasure and excitement for the South African Chapter of the International Association of Women Judges to be co-hosting the I7th IAWJ Biennial conference from 9-12 April 2025 in Cape Town, fondly known as the Mother City in South Africa. We are very honoured to have been awarded the bid to host this Biennial conference. The conference is held at a time when we are still celebrating the appointment of the first woman Chief Justice in South Africa, Chief Justice Maya who is also the Vice President of IAWJ. The conference is held under the theme: Resilience: Women in Leadership to End Gender- Based Violence & Femicide. The conference will unpack various definitions including gender based violence and femicide so that there is a common understanding of what these entail. We hope to equip our members, particularly those in leadership, with strategies on how to end the scourge of gender based violence that is growing on a daily basis throughout the world. We have seen in the recent past that gender based violence adversely impacts women from all walks of life. The conference will present an opportunity to share practical knowledge and experiences on systemic inequalities that perpetuate gender based violence in different aspects of the vulnerable groups. We also look forward in gaining knowledge on how to remain resilient whilst judging the most sensitive of cases and how to protect our mental health in the process. These are just a few of the topics to be covered in the four- day conference.
  
The organizers are structuring the conference such that delegates are able to visit some of the historic attraction sites that Cape Town boasts of, including Robben Island and Table Mountain. We will also showcase the diverse cultures that South Africa’s rainbow nation is made of. We will ensure that your stay is pleasant and that your attendance is a memorable experience. A programme is also being prepared for accompanying partners. So, please register for the most exciting, memorable biennial conference in the African continent.”