Meaza Ashenafi (born 25 July 1964) [1] is an Ethiopian lawyer. In November 2018, she was appointed by the Federal Parliamentary Assembly as President of the Federal Supreme Court of Ethiopia until her resignation on 17 January 2023.

The first female federal Chief Justice of Ethiopia and IVLP alumna, Meaza Ashenafi spent her lifetime breaking barriers through her contributions in the legal field. She strives to promote and advocate for human rights and women's issues.

Jul 2, 2024 · Meaza Ashenafi Mengistu made history as Ethiopia’s first woman Chief Justice, leading the Federal Supreme Court. Yet, this significant achievement is just one chapter in her story of advocacy and pioneering efforts for women’s rights in Ethiopia.

Oct 16, 2024 · Breaking Barriers: Ethiopia’s First Female Chief Justice. In 2018, Meaza Ashenafi made history by becoming the first woman appointed as President of Ethiopia’s Federal Supreme Court. This monumental achievement was a defining moment not only for Ethiopia but also for African women in law.

May 20, 2019 · Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed appointed Ms. Ashenafi the Supreme Court’s first female chief, one of many women named to Ethiopia’s top positions.

Meaza Ashenafi is Ethiopia’s first female President of the Federal Supreme Court, appointed by the Prime Minister of Ethiopia in November 2018. She was born in the Asosa zone in the Beninshangul-Gumuz region of Ethiopia in 1964.

Sep 4, 2019 · ADDIS ABABA (Al Jazeera) – Meaza Ashenafi, Ethiopia’s first female president of the Federal Supreme Court, is determined to restore public trust in her country’s justice system. Appointed by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in November 2018, the chief justice is tasked to reform her country’s entire judicial system.

Feb 3, 2025 · So when the country’s new reformist prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, announced last November that he was nominating Ms. Ashenafi to be the first female chief justice of Ethiopia’s Supreme Court, the reaction could best be described as a nationwide gasp.

Feb 8, 2023 · Meaza Ashenafi is a prominent Ethiopian lawyer and human rights activist who has worked as an advocate for gender justice and the advancement of women’s rights in Ethiopia and around the world. She was appointed as the first female chief justice of the Supreme Court of Ethiopia by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in 2019, making her a pioneering ...