( 3 minutes read)
- Gender activists have commended Mauritanian President Prithviraj Roopun for appointing Rehana Bibi Chief Justice
- She is the a first woman to hold that position on the island.
Rehana Bibib becomes the second woman this year to head an African country’s justice system. In May, President Uhuru Kenyatta appointed Judge Martha Koome as Kenya’s first female chief justice and head of the judiciary. However, the UN representatives have maintained that more work needs to be done to achieve gender equality.
Gender activists have commended Mauritanian commended President Prithviraj Roopun for appointing Rehana Bibi Chief Justice. She is the a first woman to hold that position on the island.
Rehana Bibib becomes the second woman this year to head an African country’s justice system. In May, President Uhuru Kenyatta appointed Judge Martha Koome as Kenya’s first female chief justice and head of the judiciary. However, the UN representatives have maintained that more work needs to be done to achieve gender equality. Mauritius has done well in protecting women’s rights.In Mauritius, 83.3% of legal frameworks that promote, enforce and monitor gender equality, with a focus on violence against women are in place,”.
Mauritius is the fourth best country in terms of gender equality in Sub Saharan Africa behind South Africa, Rwanda and Namibia according to African Development Bank (AFDB).
In its 53 years of independence, Mauritius has had two female presidents. Of that one was acting and the other elected. Dr Bibi Ameenah Firdaus Gurib-Fakim, 62, was elected sixth president of the island and served between 2015-2018. Before her, former journalist Agnès Monique Ohsan Bellepeau, 79, had two stints as acting president. The island had also a female vice president, Bellepeau and a female speaker of parliament, Santi Bai “Maya” Hanoomanjee, 69.
