Professor Jarpa Dawuni: Beyond the Bench

In this episode of Justice Beyond the Bench, we welcome Professor Jarpa Dawuni, professor at Howard University, whose scholarship and institution-building have helped reshape conversations on gender and justice in Africa and beyond. Professor Dawuni reflects on her path into law, sharing how early expectations for girls in Ghana contrasted with the inspiration she drew from seeing a successful Black woman featured in Ebony magazine, and how mentorship from lawyers and judges helped solidify her commitment to the profession.

Professor Dawuni explains how her career bridges research and action through what she calls “scholarly activism”—producing evidence that leads to real institutional change rather than “sitting on a bookshelf.” Drawing from fieldwork and conversations with women judges, she emphasizes the humanity “behind the robe,” including the sacrifices and resilience women judges bring to their roles. She describes founding the Institute for African Women in Law (IAWL) in 2015 to address gaps in research and visibility, and outlines its work in research, training, advocacy, and advisory services. The discussion also highlights IAWL’s Gender Equality in Law Campaign (launched July 5, 2024 in Accra), built on survey data identifying persistent barriers—sexual harassment, unequal pay and promotion, and gender bias—leading to a model policy that has been widely adopted and even endorsed at the African Union level, underscoring the power of sustained, collaborative partnerships (including with IAWJ) to drive long-term reform.