Justice Ayesha Malik honoured with 'international leader' award in Vienna

Supreme Court Justice Ayesha Malik has been honored with the International Leader/Lifetime Award at the Justitia Awards 2026 in Vienna, Austria. This prestigious recognition celebrates her exceptional contributions to the advancement of law and justice, as well as her tireless efforts to promote equality, human rights, and the meaningful involvement of women within the legal system and justice institutions.

The esteemed honor was presented in the company of judges, lawyers, and legal professionals from diverse jurisdictions, underscoring the importance of women occupying influential positions to shape legal reasoning, institutional practices, and the evolution of law.

During her visit to Vienna, Justice Malik engaged in the Women in Law Conference 2026, delivering a compelling address on "Roadmap to Equality and Women’s Rights in Practice." Reflecting on her journey from her appointment to the Lahore High Court in 2012 to becoming the first woman judge of the Supreme Court in 2022, she candidly discussed the unique challenges and opportunities faced by women judges, as well as the significance of integrating a gender perspective into legal reasoning and judicial practices.

Justice Malik stressed that the pursuit of equality transcends mere formal legal guarantees and must account for the lived realities of women, advocating for legal principles and judicial institutions to effectively address and respond to the distinct experiences and needs of women in the justice system. The conferral of this distinguished award marks a proud testament to Justice Malik’s judicial contributions and highlights Pakistan's growing influence and recognition within the international legal community.

The Pakistan-based Women in Law initiative hailed the award as a "proud moment" for Pakistan, noting that Justice Malik is the third Pakistani woman to receive a Justitia Award, following rights activist Jalila Haider in the International Game Changer category (2023) and advocate Nida Usman Chaudhry for the International Academia category.