The IAWJ recognizes distinguished leaders through two awards to be presented at the 2025 Biennial Conference. These awards are the Human Rights Award and the Arline Pacht Global Vision Award.
The IAWJ Awards Committee requests nominations from members and staff of the IAWJ for each of these awards meeting the award criteria listed below. The 2025 IAWJ Awards Committee is comprised of Binta Nyako, Mina Sougrati, Amy Lazaro-Javier, Mandisa Maya, Robyn Tupman, and Susan Glazebrook.
Please submit nominations on the Awards page on the 17th Biennial Conference website. Please include the name of the award the individual is nominated for, a short summary about the nominee and significant achievements pertaining to the criteria, and the name of the person or association who submits the nomination. Please note, the nominee must attend the IAWJ Biennial Conference in Cape Town, South Africa be considered for the award.
The nominee for the IAWJ Human Rights Awards shall have demonstrated leadership and a commitment to ensuring the application of human rights principles, or other significant initiatives in furtherance of the cause of justice for women, children, and families.
Past recipients are Bertha Wilson (1998), Navanethem Pillay (2000), Arline Pacht (2002), Gertrude Mongella (2004), Carmen Argibay (2006), Esmeralda Arosemena de Troitiño (2008), Elena Highton (2010), Claire L’Hereux Dubé (2012), Sanji Monageng (2014), Patricia Wald (2016), Ruth Bader Ginsburg (2018), Silvia Cartwright (2021), and Norma Lucía Piña Hernández (2023).
The nominee for the IAWJ Human Rights Awards shall have demonstrated leadership and a commitment to ensuring the application of human rights principles, or other significant initiatives in furtherance of the cause of justice for women, children, and families.
Past recipients are Bertha Wilson (1998), Navanethem Pillay (2000), Arline Pacht (2002), Gertrude Mongella (2004), Carmen Argibay (2006), Esmeralda Arosemena de Troitiño (2008), Elena Highton (2010), Claire L’Hereux Dubé (2012), Sanji Monageng (2014), Patricia Wald (2016), Ruth Bader Ginsburg (2018), Silvia Cartwright (2021), and Norma Lucía Piña Hernández (2023).
The Arline Pacht Global Vision Award was first presented to Judge Arline Pacht at the banquet concluding the International Association of Women Judges Biennial Conference in 2016 “in recognition of her achievement in founding the IAWJ.” The IAWJ decided that the award would be presented at each biennial conference thereafter, preferably to a sitting or retired woman judge, to recognize her long-term contribution to the IAWJ and the IAWJ’s goals. Past recipients are Theresa Doherty (2018); Gita Mittal and Margarita Luna Ramos (2021); and Susana Medina and Teresita Leonardo-De Costa (2023).
Criteria for the Global Vision Award
IAWJ President Justice Binta Nyako is pleased to announce this year’s Nominating Committee for the IAWJ Executive Council:
IAWJ President and Chair of Committee
IAWJ President-Elect
President-Elect
Vice President
Vice President
Secretary/Treasurer
The powers and responsibilities of these officer positions are listed in Article V: Section 5.2 of the Bylaws. The Bylaws can be found at https://www.iawj.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=882224&module_id=561927 To qualify for an officer position, a nominee must be a voting member of IAWJ who is current on the payment of dues. Bylaws Section 3.1 & 5.1. An officer may serve no more than two consecutive full two-year terms in the same position. Officers are expected to be available to respond to emails and telephone calls, engage in discussion and voting, to serve on committees, to represent the association in forums, and to support the IAWJ as requested by the President. Officers receive no compensation and pay their own transportation and accommodation expenses to attend annual meetings of the Board of Directors. When nominating a person for an officer position, please ensure that she meets the eligibility criteria and is willing to undertake the responsibilities of the office. For the Secretary/Treasurer position, the person must have the ability to review and monitor IAWJ financial accounts and to take International Board Meeting minutes in English. All nominations should list the nominee’s activities in support of the IAWJ and/or member association. In addition, nominees for President-elect should submit a statement of their vision for IAWJ. Nominations should be submitted through the Biennial Registration website. Nominations may also be submitted to the attention of the Nominating Committee at conference@iawj.org. The Nominating Committee will select at least one (1) nominee for each officer position and no more than two (2) nominees from any one region. The nominees selected by the Nominating Committee shall be circulated to the Board of Directors with at least 20 days’ notice before the election. Officers shall be elected by a majority vote of members of the Board of Directors and shall reflect the diversity of the membership. All nominees must attend the 17th Biennial Conference in Cape Town, South Africa. Executive Council Officer Elections will take place during the International Board meeting on 7 and 8 April 2025. Elected executive officers must be available to attend the first meeting of the new board on Saturday 12 April at 13:30 (Cape Town Time) and are elected for a two-year period.Click the button below for the Nomination Form for Regional Director Positions.