In its session that was held today, the House of People’s Representatives elected a president and vice president for the Federal Supreme Court. Accordingly, Meaza Ashenafi has been elected to serve as president. Meaza is the first woman to sit at the helm of the country’s highest judicial organ.

Meaza, 54, was born in Asosa, Benishangul Gumuz Regional State and is widely known for providing pro bono services to disadvantaged societies especially women and children.

Solomon Areda has been elected to be her vice.

The president and vice president of the Court were nominated for the position by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD).

Members of Parliament appreciated the PM for his determination in bringing women to the fore and commended the nominees for their impressive track records and educational background which they are expected to bring into implementation.

Meaza is the founder and the first executive director of Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association and the board chairperson of Enat Bank.

She has also been involved in the work of the African Center for Gender and Social development at the UN’s Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) assisting in setting up African Women’s Rights Observatory. Until her appointment, she has been serving as UNECA’s top gender adviser and Women’s Rights Capacity Development Division along with her pro bono services.

Her vice, Solomon, is a high-profile legal expert who graduated from Harvard University cum laude. He received his LLB from Addis Ababa University after which he obtained three master’s degrees.

He has also served as a judge for the International Tribunal Court at The Hague. Locally, he has been a judge at the high court and has been delivering trainings for various legal experts across Africa