Autonomy in decision—making

The presence of women in the highest positions of the judiciary is essential to ensuring greater gender equality in the administration of justice, in key decision-making, and in assessing the effectiveness of gender parity policies. A low percentage of women in these positions reflects structural barriers to women's access to power in the legal field.

For the Caribbean countries of Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, the British Virgin Islands, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the indicator considers the percentage of female judges in the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC).

Definition
This indicator corresponds to the proportion of female judges or magistrates serving in the highest court of justice or supreme court, relative to the total number of judges in office. The result is expressed as a percentage. The Gender Equality Observatory for Latin America and the Caribbean compiles this indicator annually based on information provided by the National Mechanisms for the Advancement of Women or, when unavailable, official data published online by the highest judicial authority. Data is available from 1998 to the latest year. For the calculation of the regional and subregional average for the Caribbean, only the current annual value of the ECSC is considered, not that of the individual countries that comprise it.