Women’s leadership in law: Convening for change

Despite growing commitments to gender equality, women across Africa remain underrepresented in leadership roles within legal and justice systems. To confront these enduring inequalities, from 14-16th July 2025, FEMNET and Co-Impact co-hosted a convening in Nairobi, bringing together legal professionals, feminist leaders, advocates and media professionals from across the continent and beyond.

Through our Global Justice 50/50 work, we are proud to be a member of the Women in Leadership in Law (WILL) coalition: a diverse group of organisations working to dismantle the structural barriers that continue to limit women’s leadership in legal and justice systems. Alongside other members of the WILL coalition –  including FEMNET, GQUAL, the University of Johannesburg, The Clooney Foundation for Justice, The International Association of Women Judges, and Purpose – we joined this intergenerational gathering of minds to share our work and learn from others.

Over several days, the convening fostered meaningful dialogue, enabling participants to connect across regions and share experiences, exchange practical ideas, and co-develop targeted approaches to promote gender equity within legal and judicial institutions.

Our highlights

Inspiring leadership and bold calls for change

From the outset, speakers grounded the conversation in urgency, experience and hope. Hon. Lady Justice Njoki Ndungu of the Supreme Court of Kenya, delivering a powerful keynote on behalf of Hon. Justice Martha K. Koome, Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court of Kenya, reminded participants that the “shared endeavour” of women’s leadership rests on “continuity, legacy, and solidarity” and that “advocacy remains our most powerful tool for transforming policy, shaping narrative, and advancing justice.” Justice Ndungu summarised the goal with the compelling words:

“Women and men must be equal; but women and men are different – that is why we need to be 50/50 in decision-making.”

Faith Odhiambo, President of the Law Society of Kenya, reiterated the message of sisterhood, that we need to uplift each other and that when we move in solidarity, it is a way for us to move forward and make our ideas a reality. Throughout the convening, participants rallied behind the compelling call to be unapologetic in their ambitions, to speak up and take up space even if it feels uncomfortable, to move beyond firsts and normalise women in leadership.

Data at the centre

Data was a crucial focus throughout the convening. Without truly representative data, efforts to tackle gender gaps in leadership cannot be fully effective. Reliable data is essential for understanding barriers and driving real change. This was reinforced in the “Data O’clock” session, where Prof. Sarah Kinyanjui and Dr. Mercy Deche from the University of Nairobi presented a scoping study on women’s leadership in Kenya’s legal sector, highlighting the critical role data plays in informing effective, equitable policy.

WILL Coalition Panel: Legal Leadership Across Borders

On the final day, our Justice Sector Lead, Govindi Deerasinghe, joined WILL coalition partners for a panel discussion on the power of cross-border alliances to drive institutional change toward gender-equal leadership. Govindi highlighted Global 50/50’s plans to drive accountability and equity in the law and justice sector, sharing the bold methodology behind our upcoming Global Justice 50/50 Report – the same rigorous approach that has inspired change in the health sector. The panel discussion also highlighted the essential roles of mentorship, support networks, and storytelling in building more inclusive and representative leadership systems.

Photographs of Global 50/50 Justice Sector lead, Govindi Deerasinghe, on the ‘Legal Leadership Across Borders’ Panel at The Women in Leadership In Law Convening in Nairobi on 16th July 2025.

The Role of Media in Advancing Gender Equality

Collaboration with the media emerged as a vital strategy for raising visibility and reshaping the narratives around women in law and leadership. In a dynamic session on media and public perception, media expert Mildred Ngesa emphasised the need to engage the media from the very beginning – to amplify women’s voices, challenge dominant narratives, and drive momentum toward gender parity in leadership.

Intergenerational solidarity

Mentorship, both formal and informal, emerged time and again during the convening as key to advancing progress. A session on Advancing Women’s Intergenerational Leadership within the AU Human Rights System, featuring AU Commissioner and Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa, Janet Ramatoulie Sallah-Njie, opened space for intimate dialogue on the power of working across generations.

Participants reflected on the importance of shared learning, mutual respect and the need to shift away from competition and towards partnership. While the challenges faced by different generations may not be the same, solidarity rooted in shared purpose can bridge those differences and help pave the way for a more equitable future. In all its forms, solidarity remains a vital force for progress.

Photographs of the Global 50/50 team at The Women in Leadership In Law Convening in Nairobi, 14-16th July 2025. Images courtesy of FEMNET.

Next steps

We thank FEMNET, Co-Impact, and all coalition partners for creating this powerful forum for shared learning and collective action.

Global 50/50 and the WILL coalition are committed to building on this momentum through rigorous data, strong partnerships, and shared advocacy – working to make gender parity in law and justice leadership a reality, not just an aspiration.

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