Justice Ayesha Malik wins justitia lifetime award

The award was presented at an annual event organised by the Women in Law Initiative in Vienna, which recognises women lawyers and judges

ISLAMABAD: Justice Ayesha A. Malik of the Supreme Court of Pakistan has received the prestigious International Leader/Lifetime Award at the Justitia Awards 2026 in Vienna, earning international recognition for her contributions to gender equality, diversity and the legal profession.

The award was presented at an annual event organised by the Women in Law Initiative in Vienna, which recognises women lawyers and judges for their achievements and contributions towards greater equality and diversity within the legal profession.

Justice Malik shared the award category with I. Stephanie Boyce, former President of the Law Society of England and Wales.

In her acceptance remarks, Justice Malik said the recognition represented more than an individual achievement and dedicated it to women who continue to enter professional spaces where they were previously excluded.

She said the award reflected both the work undertaken and its wider impact, stressing that progress in the legal profession is strengthened when women bring different perspectives to institutions and help amplify the voices of others.

The recognition has been welcomed in Pakistan as a significant international achievement for the country’s judiciary. Nida Usman Chaudhary, founder of the Women in Law Initiative Pakistan, described the honour as a moment of pride and said Justice Malik’s contribution to law and justice had inspired women across the country.

Justice Malik is the third Pakistani recipient of a Justitia Award. Nida Usman Chaudhary previously received the International Academia Award in 2021, while lawyer and human rights activist Jalila Haider won the International Pioneers and Game Changers category in 2023.

Justice Malik made history in 2022 when she became the first woman to serve as a judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Her latest international recognition adds another milestone to her judicial career and places Pakistan’s female representation in the judiciary in the global spotlight.

The award has also generated positive reactions among legal circles and members of the public, with supporters describing the achievement as a powerful representation of Pakistan’s women and their growing role in institutions of national and international importance.

For many observers, Justice Malik’s recognition in Vienna represents not only a personal honour but also a broader acknowledgement of the contribution Pakistani women continue to make to law, justice and public institutions.