CAIRO - Egypt has appointed 48 female judges to its State Council for the first time through an entry-level pathway, a move that underscores the country's efforts to advance women's empowerment and judicial reform.

The move supports the comprehensive development of Egypt's judicial system amid digital transformation and ongoing institutional modernization, according to a statement released by the State Council on Sunday.

"Today's historic step mirrors the country's commitment to empower women and promote their participation in the judicial authority", the statement quoted Osama Shalaby, chairman of the Egyptian State Council, as saying.

Their appointment marks another key step to promote women's empowerment in the judicial sector after March 2022, when 98 women were sworn in as State Council judges for the first time in Egypt's history through transfers from other judicial bodies.

Samar Alaa, a newly appointed judge who graduated from Alexandria University, said: "It is an honor and a great responsibility to administer justice fairly and serve as a female role model in the judiciary."

Founded in 1946, the State Council was reaffirmed by Egypt's 2014 constitution as an independent judicial body with jurisdiction over administrative disputes, disciplinary cases, appeals, and challenges to its own decisions. It also has the authority to issue legal opinions, review and draft legislation and resolutions, and examine draft contracts involving the state or public entities.