As part of sweeping reforms, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed appointed Meaza Ashenafi to be the first woman to lead the country’s Supreme Court. This charismatic lawyer has built a career advocating for women. VOA‘s Salem Solomon has this profile.
Human rights lawyer Meaza Ashenafi was sworn in on 1st November 2018 as the head of Ethiopia’s Supreme Court by the country’s parliament in a wave of appointments for women in top government positions.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed nominated Meaza, the country’s chief of staff announced. The Ethiopian leader has pushed for more female representation in his Cabinet.
“She brings a track record of competence and relevant experience to the role,” now Ethiopia’s Ambassador to the United States Fitsum Arega, said on Twitter, adding that her position signaled the country’s move toward “gender parity” in key leadership positions.
Meaza has been an adviser on gender and women’s rights at the UN Economic Commission for Africa based in Ethiopia’s capital of Addis Ababa.
She founded the Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association and served as a High Court judge.
Meaza’s appointment came a week after Ethiopia elected Sahle-Work Zewde as its first woman President, a move lauded as setting new standards for female leadership in the African nation.
Women make up half of the country’s ministerial positions following a Cabinet reshuffle by Abiy, who leads Ethiopia’s government and policy.
Abiy, Africa’s youngest head of government at age 42, has embarked on liberal reforms since taking office in April.
He honored an agreement that ended a 20-year border war with neighboring Eritrea and freed journalists, bloggers and political prisoners jailed by previous administrations.
Sources: VOA Africa and CNN