Iraqi Women Judges Association: “Baghdad Declaration” Establishes the Arab Women Judges Network and Designates Baghdad as Its Permanent Headquarters

The meeting hosted in Baghdad resulted in the adoption of the Baghdad Declaration, which announced the establishment of the Arab Women Judges Network and designated the city of Baghdad as its permanent headquarters. This milestone marks a significant step toward strengthening judicial cooperation among Arab women judges and promoting joint professional collaboration across the Arab world.

The Iraqi Women Judges Association hosted the joint meeting with the delegation of Arab women judges in Baghdad, in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) – Regional Bureau for Arab States. The meeting was held as part of ongoing efforts to support initiatives aimed at empowering women within the judiciary and enhancing frameworks for professional coordination among Arab women judges.

The meeting was attended by Judge Taghreed Abdul Majeed, President of the Iraqi Women Judges Association, together with members of the Association’s Board of Directors. It was also attended by Judge Mina Sougrati, President of the International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ), as well as women judges representing Morocco, Qatar, Algeria, Yemen, and Palestine, reflecting the diverse Arab participation in the founding meeting.

The meeting was held over two days, 13–14 February 2026, within the framework of the work of the Founding Committee of the Arab Women Judges Network. Extensive discussions focused on establishing the Network’s foundational principles and developing its organizational and institutional framework.

The participants also drafted the Network’s vision and mission, defined its strategic objectives, and unanimously approved Baghdad as the permanent headquarters of the Arab Women Judges Network. This decision was endorsed by the women judges representing the participating Arab countries at the founding meeting: Iraq, Morocco, Qatar, Algeria, Yemen, and Palestine.

In the Baghdad Declaration, the Network affirmed its independent, professional, and non-political character, while committing to operate in accordance with the relevant national and international legal frameworks. The Declaration also emphasized adherence to the principles of judicial independence, the rule of law, professionalism, and mutual cooperation, with full respect for the legal and judicial systems of the Arab states.

The Declaration further underscored the importance of coordinating Arab efforts to advance the professional performance of women judges, facilitating the exchange of judicial expertise, and strengthening channels of communication and cooperation among Arab women judges, thereby contributing to the promotion of justice and reinforcing the role of women within the judiciary throughout the Arab region.