Radwa Helmi

Radwa Helmi is an Egyptian jurist who in 2022 became the first woman judge to preside on the country's State Council.

Career Although there are hundreds of women lawyers in Egypt and no laws barring women from being judges, the country had traditionally had male only courts. On 3 October 2021, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi made a decree that saw 98 women appointed to join the State Council, in line with Article 11 of the nation's 2014 Constitution, which guarantees women the right to be in public positions, including on judicial bodies, without discrimination.

On 5 March 2022, Helmi became the first female judge to preside over the council. Helmi said she was proud of her "great responsibility", describing the President's decision as "an essential part of supporting every Egyptian woman”. She later said in a media interview, "The world is changing, and it is necessary to work on self-development, which will open doors to distinguished titles and show the ingenuity and capabilities of women."