The International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ) biennial conference, which had to be postponed because of Covid-19, will now take place from 7–9 May, 2021. This will be an in-person event for those who can travel to Auckland (subject to any further lockdowns), but will be virtual for everyone else. It will be live-streamed and also recorded and available for delegates to view until the end of 2021.
Most of our keynote speakers for the postponed 2020 conference will be joining us virtually, and we will have some very interesting panels dealing with topics such as refugees and trafficking, Covid-19, judicial leadership, indigenous issues, different court models, and climate change. We are hopeful that the Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern, will be one of our speakers. Baroness Brenda Hale, Mary Robinson, Baroness Helena Kennedy, Helen Clark, and Professor Jim Hathaway have already confirmed their (virtual) attendance. We are aiming to have the full programme up soon on the conference website: iawj2021auckland.com.
We are sure the conference will be a fascinating and enjoyable event. This is to let you know that the Ministry of Justice has generously offered to pay the registration fees for judges and judicial officers who wish to attend the conference. Weekend registration or virtual registration is available to those who cannot be released from the roster on the Friday.
If any JANZ members do wish to take advantage of the Ministry’s offer, email Ange Johnston at IAWJproject@justice.govt.nz and specify the type of registration you would like. Places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, although preference will be given to newly appointed judges and judicial officers.
We note that district court judges already rostered to sit on Friday, 7 May cannot be released from the roster (but as weekend or virtual participants, you will have access to a recording of the Friday session after the conference).