Summit County, Ohio: Summit County Common Pleas Court Judge Mary Margaret Rowlands has been selected as a presenter at the upcoming 63rd Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) being held the week of March 11, 2019 at the United Nations headquarters in New York City. CSW’s 2019 theme is Social protection systems, access to public services and sustainable infrastructure for gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.

The topic Courts and Public Services: Global perspectives from women judges will be highlighted and Judge Rowlands will address the criminal justice system serving as a means to access services not otherwise readily available to individuals in need. “I believe my experience is beneficial to participating in and advancing the dialogue this year,” stated Rowlands.

Her third opportunity to participate, Rowlands is one of twenty judges in the world selected to serve as part of the International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ) delegation. Judges from Argentina, Israel, Canada, Mexico, and the Philippines will also join in this important discussion.

“I am honored to participate in this important discussion, providing insight into how the criminal justice system has become an ironic vehicle to access needed services and solutions for many of the challenges women face in our community,” stated Rowlands.

The International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization whose members represent all levels of the judiciary worldwide and share a commitment to equal justice for women and the rule of law. Created in 1991, the IAWJ has grown to a membership of over 6000 in 85 countries.

Judge Rowlands believes that collective action is necessary to overcome such barriers. “As women continue to face increasingly critical challenges, the need for global coalition in response is likewise increasingly critical,” Rowlands said.

The Honorable Mary Margaret Rowlands earned her J.D. from The University of Akron School of Law in 1989 and has been a judge since 2009. Judge Rowlands is dedicated to diversity and equality in the legal profession, protecting individual rights, fairness and equality in the courts, and equal access to justice. ##