Algeria

In 2024, Algeria continued to make strides in strengthening its legal and institutional frameworks in the areas of rule of law, justice, security, gender equality and human rights. These efforts included significant reforms such as the restructuring of the High Council of the Judiciary and amendments to judicial career management policies. While Algeria stands out globally for its high representation of women in the judiciary, nearly 48 percent of magistrates are women, but according to data communicated by the Ministry of Justice in December 2024, only 25 percent of them hold leadership positions. This disparity underscored the need for targeted interventions to address structural and cultural barriers that hinder women’s advancement within the judicial system.

In response to this challenge, UNDP, in close partnership with the Ministry of Justice, launched a strategic initiative to support the career development of female magistrates. This intervention aimed to identify the key obstacles preventing women from accessing leadership roles and to propose evidence-based reforms that would promote gender equality and institutional inclusivity. The initiative was designed not only to empower individual women judges but also to contribute to broader structural changes within Algeria’s judicial system.

One of the central achievements was the development of a gender equality analysis framework tailored to the Algerian judiciary. This framework served as a foundation for understanding the internal dynamics of court operations and identifying the specific challenges faced by women magistrates. It also informed a comparative study that examined best practices from other countries, particularly those that had successfully implemented the Gender Equality Seal for Institutions. The study provided actionable recommendations for Algeria, offering a roadmap for reform that is both context-specific and aligned with international standards.

The initiative also placed a strong emphasis on capacity-building. More than 237 women magistrates participated in specialized training programmes designed to enhance their leadership, communication and human resource management skills. These sessions were tailored to the unique demands of the judiciary and aimed to equip participants with the tools needed to pursue and succeed in senior roles. Notably, 100 percent of female prosecutors and 84 percent of female presidents of administrative and ordinary courts took part in these trainings, reflecting a high level of engagement and commitment among the target group.

In addition to technical training, the initiative included a communication campaign to raise awareness about the importance of gender parity in the judiciary. This campaign targeted both current magistrates and students at the School of Higher Education for the Judiciary, fostering a more inclusive and supportive institutional culture. By promoting a shared understanding of the value of diversity in leadership, the campaign helped to create an environment more conducive to women’s advancement.

The project’s people-centred approach ensured that the specific needs and aspirations of women judges were at the heart of its design and implementation. It recognized the importance of addressing both institutional and individual barriers to career progression and sought to empower women through a combination of skills development, mentorship and advocacy.

A particularly innovative aspect of the initiative was the inclusion of real-life success stories to inspire and motivate participants. One such example was the involvement of a former Algerian judge who rose to become the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General on Peace Issues and later served as a Minister in charge of Strategic Partnerships. Her testimony provided a powerful example of what is possible and offered practical insights into overcoming institutional barriers. This model of combining mentorship with capacity-building proved highly effective and is considered scalable to other sectors and contexts.