The Vienna Diary

Global Engagements. Global Networks

The annual Women in Law Vienna conference is becoming an important platform for global engagement and for building strong networks among women in the legal profession. A key highlight of the conference is the Justitia Awards, which honor women’s excellence in law across several categories, including lifetime achievement, pioneers, game changers, and academia. The Justitia Awards ceremony was held in a grand hall at the University of Vienna. This year, the organizers also introduced the Political Game-Changer Awards, which were presented to Nataša Pirc Musar, President of Slovenia, and Beate Meinl-Reisinger, Austria's Minister of Foreign Affairs.

I. Stephanie Boyce

The keynote speech was delivered by the incredible I. Stephanie Boyce, the former president (the first person of color and the first Black woman) of the Law Society of England and Wales, highlighted how strategic litigation can be used as an opportunity to establish laws and set precedents. She further noted that lawyers have the power to change the legal landscape for everyone, and women have played important roles in strategic litigation cases that have pushed the boundaries of justice for many.

The three insightful panels included Track I, "Women in Migration - Law and Enforcement: Global Challenges, Local Solutions"; Track II, "Legal Activism: Leveraging Strategic Litigation for a Just Future"; and Track III, "Justice for All: Breaking (Bad) Barriers to Legal Access." I had the pleasure of moderating Track II, with the excellent panelists.

Marion Guerrero from the Law Department at the University of Vienna, Nida Usman Chaudhary, Founder of Women in Law Pakistan, Dr. Alice Fremuth-Wolf, Market Head for Austria & CEE at Nivalion, Linda Chanow, COO of the Institute for Inclusion in the Legal Profession (IILP), Romana Wochner, Policy Maker at the Chamber of Labour in Austria, and Alexander Wilfinger, Professor of Civil Procedure Law at the University of Graz and WU Vienna.

IAWL’s participation in this conference underscores its global involvement and networks as essential for connecting African women in law across borders, regions, and language barriers. Since being named a Justitia Award Laureate in 2020 in the International Academia category, I have returned twice as a panel moderator, featuring intelligent, eloquent, and well-informed women lawyers. These women inspire me to be the best version of myself and remind me that cross-border engagement and building strong networks are vital in fighting patriarchy in all forms—whether at the domestic or international level.

A huge congratulations to the conference organizers—Dr. Alix Frank-Thomasser, Caroline Wagner, and a special shout-out to the tireless male ally Franz J. Heidinger, whose relentless support for women and gender equality in law is truly admirable and inspiring. It's encouraging to see men actively supporting women in law!

Until we meet again in Vienna in September 2026, keep an eye out for the conference call and nominate a deserving woman for the 2026 Justitia Awards!

Until next time………