Speaking of the essential need for female representation in courthouses, the appointment of Justice Ayesha Malik as Pakistan’s first female judge of the Supreme Court gives cause to celebrate. Malik has heard cases on a variety of issues including the environment, and the enforcement of international arbitration in Pakistan. Her work has been varied and not limited to matters concerning women, but what got her the most attention and garnered international headlines was when in a bold ruling for sexual assault cases, she outlawed the use of hymen examinations and virginity tests. She said that such practices have no forensic value and offend the dignity of the female victim. With her voice in the decision-making room, we were able to move past an archaic and scientifically insignificant practice.
Justice Ayesha Malik stands as a present-day example of the impact that can be made by the simple intervention of including underheard voices in positions of authority. Voices that can help us see a problem from a different lens and offer a new solution. Of course, her’s is the underheard voice of no less than 50% of the country’s population, but we hope her appointment will pave the way for many more women and other underheard voices in the future!
