ABU DHABI: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has got its first woman judge with Khulood Ahmed Jawan Al-Dhaheri being sworn in to the coveted post in the emirate of Abu Dhabi.
Al-Dhaheri was sworn in at a ceremony in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, UAE’s minister for presidential affairs and chairman of the Abu Dhabi Judiciary Department, the official WAM news agency reported.
“The appointment of a woman judge is certainly a unique experience in the UAE,” Sheikh Mansour said.
“The department will provide all necessary support to Al-Dhaheri, who made history by becoming the first woman judge in the country,” he added.
In March this year, UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, acting in his capacity as ruler of Abu Dhabi, one of the seven emirates that make up the federation, appointed Al-Dhaheri as a judge, a job hitherto reserved for men.
According to Sheikh Mansour, the appointment of the first woman judge in the UAE came as part of the comprehensive reforms being implemented in Abu Dhabi’s judiciary and in continuation of the policy aimed at increasing women’s participation in the comprehensive development drive witnessed in the emirate.
“Impartiality is one of the main features of UAE’s judicial system. All people are equal before the law, which is upheld without any prejudice or inequity,” he said.
He expressed the hope that more UAE nationals will join the judiciary and called for preparing a well-qualified generation of national judges. He hoped that the current year would witness tangible progress in the judicial process in Abu Dhabi, thanks to the unlimited support provided by the government to the judiciary.
On her part, Al-Dhaheri said she was grateful for the confidence accorded to her by Sheikh Mansour and pledged to serve her country in the best way.
“The decision to appoint women judges helps consolidate Emirati women’s growing role in the public life,” she said.
“The achievements made by the Emirati women come with added responsibilities and require them to work harder to prove themselves worthy of the trust given to them by the country’s wise leadership.”
The swearing-in ceremony was attended by Alal Al-Aboudi, head of the Court of Cassation and chairman of the UAE’s Supreme Judicial Council, and other officials.
