International Influences on Women’s Representation on High Courts
Chapter 6 examines the influence of international factors on the appointment of women to high courts in the case studies, focusing on the impact of international and regional norms, the ratification of the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), and the advocacy of international and domestic nongovernmental women’s rights organizations. The emergence of regional norms of gender equity in governance, including in the judiciary, is traced for Africa, Europe, and Latin America. Drawing on United Nations and country-specific primary sources, the rise of CEDAW mandated reporting on gender diversity in the judiciary and on high courts is documented in four of the case study countries (Canada, Colombia, Ireland, South Africa). Including the United States, the five case studies highlight the role of domestic advocacy organizations that exert pressure on appointers to consider women candidates for judgeship on high courts.