International
From that day and from my first speech in the debating chamber, I recalled the importance of African women lawyers, each time I spoke. Since then, two associations of African women lawyers have been set up. From now on, the way is open for there to be presidents who take power.
In all spheres of society, in all the places that traditionally were reserved for men, there is a need for women, be it a board of directors, presidency of the republic, etc. Another conception of power is needed for the 21st century. It will be feminine or not depending on us to invent another world.
I carried out this action throughout my Bâtonnat. All the Presidents of the Bar did not understand my approach and were somewhat skeptical but I found great support afterwards. Sometimes you have to listen to the small voice inside you and the conviction that pushes you to act.
I have the impression that many young women give up their private life in favor of professional life. However, it is also up to society to adapt to the female as well as male human. If we are forced to invest so much, it is a fundamental injustice for children, who need to see their parents. Equally, to have a full professional life, you have to flourish in another life, a full private life.
How do you think we can learn from different jurisdictions and political systems to take forward the importance of women participating at all levels of decision-making? I am for positive discrimination. It is no longer possible to waste time. Positive discrimination seems to me to have been fundamental in advancing the place of women in all positions. For example, the regulations which have established and advanced the place of women, whether in the business world, in the professions (parity in elections for example) but also a fundamental regulation to oblige men to take leave when a child arrives in the family, to stop sending women back to their wombs. A measure that may seem anecdotal but to me it is totally fundamental to change mental attitudes throughout society.
Ukraine Appeal
Translation by Solenne Brugère, Avocate, and Coral Hill, non-practicing solicitor. We have adopted a literal translation as far as possible to communicate the passion with which Dominique Attias speaks.
A
ll of us are aware of the harrowing scenes unfolding in Ukraine. The Krakow Bar Association are seeking support from lawyers abroad to support their humanitarian efforts from Poland to the Ukraine. This initiative is to provide assistance directly to those who need it most. It involves coordinating logistics for the transport of food, medical and other supplies to areas that are under served (or not served at all) by larger humanitarian charities.
Kinga Konopka and Joanna Wsolek, both lawyers from the Krakow Bar Association, spoke in London during April about this initiative and encouraged further contributions. If you would like to contribute, please make arrangements to transfer to the account of Krakow Bar Association: IBAN: PL65 1050 1445 1000 0090 3043 5714. BIC (SWIFT): INGBPLPW Transfer title: ‘Self-management of the Bar: Aid for Ukrainian Lawyers’.
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