The Campaign to Enable Women to Occupy Judicial Positions in Egypt

2^nd Conference: "Criteria for Selection and Employment in Judiciary Bodies"

The Arab Center for the Independence of the Judiciary and the Legal Profession will hold the conference titled "Judiciary Bodies: Selection and Employment Criteria" at 11 am on Thursday, 9 March 2006 at the Shepherd hotel.

The conference will discuss a number of research papers presented by specialized judges, lawyers, law professors and human rights activists about the position of national and international legislation towards employment in or appointment to judiciary bodies. The conference will also discuss the criteria and guarantees for selection and employment in judiciary bodies and the entity in charge of employments, as well as the position of the Egyptian Judiciary and judges towards the selection and employment criteria. The conference will also include a round table to prepare a draft concerning the objective criteria and guarantees for the committees handling interview and employment in judiciary bodies. Many legal, legislative and media figures will participate in the discussion.

This is the second conference within the framework of ACIJLP's campaign about "Enabling Women to Occupy Judiciary Positions" launched in January and scheduled to continue to December 2006 supported by the European Commission in Egypt. The campaign aims to attempt to change the point of view in Egypt opposed to appointing women to Judiciary positions. The campaign also aims to determine the legislative and real obstacles facing this objective and the accompanying reading to the relevant laws, including the laws related to appointment to Judiciary positions and the laws governing those in charge of judiciary work, including judges and lawyers; and whether these laws are compatible with relevant acknowledged international criteria.

Many legal, diplomatic, media, parliament, human rights and civil society figures will participate in the conference.