(CNN) Human rights lawyer Meaza Ashenafi was sworn in Thursday as the head of Ethiopia's Supreme Court by the country's parliament in a wave of appointments for women in top government positions.

The Ethiopian leader has pushed for more female representation in his Cabinet. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed nominated Meaza , the country's chief of staff announced.The Ethiopian leader has pushed for more female representation in his Cabinet.

"She brings a track record of competence and relevant experience to the role," Abiy's top aide, Fitsum Arega, said on Twitter, adding that her position signaled the country's move toward "gender parity" in key leadership positions.

Meaza Ashenafi is one of #Ethiopia's most seasoned lawyers and a prominent women rights activist. She was the founder of Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association and has served as High Court Judge. She brings a track record of competence and relevant experience to the role. pic.twitter.com/E9ZNtpp6GB — Fitsum Arega (@fitsumaregaa) November 1, 2018

Meaza has been an adviser on gender and women's rights at the UN Economic Commission for Africa based in Ethiopia's capital of Addis Ababa.

She founded the Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association and served as a High Court judge.

Read More</s>Ethiopia swore in its first female Supreme Court chief on Thursday, part of a wave of appointments of women to top government positions backed by Ethiopia's new Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

The new chief, Meaza Ashenafi , a champion of women's rights, was a judge on Ethiopia's High Court from 1989 to 1992 and adviser for the UN Economic Commission for Africa. She founded the Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association and started the country's first women's bank.

Meaza also tried a case that resulted in an end to the tradition of kidnapping girls and forcing them to marry. The case sparked debate over the issue throughout the country and became the subject of the 2014 film "Difret," executive produced by Angelina Jolie. Underage marriage remains common in rural Ethiopia, where most of the population lives.

Abiy Ahmed, 42, Africa's youngest head of government, was elected prime minister in April, and has promoted a series of measures to improve gender parity in the country. After a cabinet reshuffling, women now make up half of Ethiopia's ministerial positions.

Abiy said he nominated Meaza "with the firm belief that she has the capacity required, with her vast international experience in mind," according to Reuters. The parliament approved the nomination unanimously.

Fitsum Arega, Abiy's chief of staff, tweeted congratulations to Meaza following her swearing in.

Abiy has also invited exiled opposition leaders back to Ethiopia and released thousands of political prisoners, including journalists and bloggers. He made peace with Ethiopia's neighbor, Eritrea, after a border war and 20 years of bitter relations, and has begun opening up the country's state-run economy.</s>Ethiopia’s parliament swore in the country’s first female supreme court president. Meaza Ashenafi is the first lady to be in that position. Under Ethiopia’s constitution, the court system operates independently of government.

A prominent human rights campaigner, Meaza recently served as an adviser on women’s rights at the Addis Ababa-based United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.

The Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed had declared that his government will take the necessary steps to ensure gender parity in government. Last week the Horn of Africa country named Sahle-Work Zewde as president, also the first woman to hold that post.

The appointment of Meaza Ashenafi comes two weeks after Abiy named ten female ministers to make Ethiopia the third country in Africa – after Rwanda and Seychelles – to have its cabinet split equally between men and women. Parliament unanimously approved Abiy’s choice

Since his appointment in April, Abiy has presided over a series of reforms that have included the pardoning of dissidents long outlawed by the government and diplomatic overtures to long-term enemy Eritrea.

But they have so far failed to curtail unrest with over two million people displaced this year due to clashes – many pitting different ethnic groups against each other – in several parts of the country.</s>The women-led wave in Ethiopia shows no signs of abating as the country welcomed its first Chief Justice, i.e. President of the Federal Supreme Court, on Thursday morning.

Meaza Ashenafi, was approved unanimously by the lawmaking chamber, House of Peoples Representatives, HoPR, she had been nominated by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

Ashenafi, who is the founder of the Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association, EWLA, is to serve as President of the federal Supreme Court. Lawmakers also approved the appointment of Solomon Areda as Vice president of the Federal Supreme Court.

Last week, lawmaker approved the appointment of Ethiopia’s first female president in the person of Sahle-Work Zewde, an astute international civil servant and diplomat who was at the time serving as top official of the United Nations chief to the African Union.

The week before, Abiy presented a gender-balanced cabinet with ten women, as many as men. He gave sensitive portfolios of Defence and the powerful Peace Ministry to women.</s>Ethiopia's parliament on Thursday appointed the country's first female supreme court chief, the latest post in a trend of elevating women to high offices, a top official said.

Meaza Ashenafi's appointment as president of the highest court followed Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's moves last month to designate a woman in the ceremonial role of president and also to name a 20-person cabinet where women hold half the posts.

"Ethiopia's march towards gender parity in key leadership positions continues unabatedly," Abiy's chief of staff Fitsum Arega wrote on Twitter.

"Meaza Ashenafi is one of Ethiopia's most seasoned lawyers and a prominent women rights activist."

A former high court judge, Meaza was also an advisor on the writing of the Ethiopian constitution, and founded the Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association (EWLA), state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporate reported.

As EWLA's executive director, Meaza successfully defended a 14-year-old girl accused of killing a man who raped her in a saga that was dramatised in the 2014 movie "Difret" on which Angeline Jolie served as executive producer.

The movie won an award the same year at the Sundance Film Festival.

Appointing women to high offices is the latest reform championed by Abiy, who has also made peace with neighbouring Eritrea and announced the privatisation of key industries following his April inauguration.</s>Meaza Ashenafi attends a screening of the movie “Difret” on Dec. 9, 2014, in Hollywood. The women’s rights activist was appointed Thursday as Ethiopia’s new Supreme Court president. (Getty Images)

Women’s rights activist named to head Ethiopia’s Supreme Court in new reform

ADDIS ABABA, Ethi­o­pia — In Ethiopia’s latest move to empower women, the country’s parliament on Thursday installed as Supreme Court president a women’s rights activist whose achievements were championed in a movie promoted by Hollywood star Angelina Jolie.

Meaza Ashenafi was a judge on Ethiopia’s High Court from 1989 to 1992 and then an adviser to a commission writing up its new constitution. She also founded the Ethio­pian Women Lawyers Association and helped start the first women’s bank in the country, Enat Bank.

Her most famous case, however, was turned into the 2014 Ethio­pian film “Difret,” which was promoted by Jolie as executive producer and went on to win the World Cinematic Dramatic Audience Award at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival.

The film is based on a court case, tried by Meaza, that resulted in outlawing the tradition of kidnapping child brides in Ethio­pia.

In 1996, Aberash Bekele, 14, was kidnapped on her way home from school by a man who intended to marry her. She escaped with a rifle and shot her kidnapper. She was then charged with murder.

Meaza succeeded in getting the charges dropped and set off a public debate over Ethiopia’s age-old tradition of kidnapping girls as brides.

Meaza was selected to head the court by Ethiopia’s new reformist prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, who has taken a series of measures to increase the role of women in what is widely described as a patriarchal society.

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Join the conversation on Twitter and Facebook.</s>Ethiopia’s parliament on Thursday swore in the country’s first female supreme court president, building on efforts by reformist Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to achieve gender parity in government.

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The appointment of Meaza Ashenafi comes two weeks after Abiy named 10 female ministers to make Ethiopia the third country in Africa - after Rwanda and Seychelles - to have its cabinet split equally between men and women.

A prominent rights campaigner, Meaza recently served as an adviser on women’s rights at the Addis Ababa-based United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.

Naming her as his pick to head the Supreme Court, Abiy told lawmakers the court system needed improved capacities “to successfully implement demands made with regards to justice, democracy and change in our country.

“I have made the nomination with the firm belief that she has the capacity required, with her vast international experience in mind.”

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Under Ethiopia’s constitution, the court system operates independent of government.

Last week the Horn of Africa country named Sahle-Work Zewde as president, also the first woman to hold that post.

Since his appointment in April, Abiy has presided over a series of reforms that have included the pardoning of dissidents long outlawed by the government and diplomatic overtures to long-term enemy Eritrea.

But they have so far failed to curtail unrest with over two million people displaced this year due to clashes - many pitting different ethnic groups against each other - in several parts of the country.</s>Ethiopia's parliament today swore in the country's first female supreme court president, adding to the 10 women ministers and state president.

New supreme court president, prominent rights campaigner Meaza Ashenafi, recently served as an adviser on women's rights at the Addis Ababa-based United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.

Her appointment comes two weeks after reformist Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed made Ethiopia the third country in Africa - after Rwanda and Seychelles - to have its cabinet split equally between men and women.

The ministers include defence minister Aisha Mohammed and Muferiat Kamil who leads the newly-created Ministry of Peace, responsible for police and domestic intelligence agencies.

Naming Ms Ashenafi as his pick to head the Supreme Court, Mr Abiy told MPs the court system needed improved capacities 'to successfully implement demands made with regards to justice, democracy and change in our country.

'I have made the nomination with the firm belief that she has the capacity required, with her vast international experience in mind.'

Under Ethiopia's constitution, the court system operates independently of government.

Last week, the Horn of Africa country named Sahle-Work Zewde to the largely ceremonial post of president, also the first woman to hold that post.

In a unanimous vote, Ethiopian lawmakers picked career diplomat Sahle-Work Zewde, 68, to replace Mulatu Teshome who resigned in unclear circumstances.

Since his appointment in April, Mr Abiy has presided over a series of reforms that have included the pardoning of dissidents long outlawed by the government and diplomatic overtures to long-term enemy Eritrea.

'If the current change in Ethiopia is headed equally by both men and women, it can sustain its momentum and realise a prosperous Ethiopia free of religious, ethnic and gender discrimination,' Ms Sahle-Work said.

Ms Sahle-Work, who was born Addis Ababa and attended university in France, has been Ethiopia's ambassador to France, Djibouti, Senegal and the regional bloc, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).

Just prior to her appointment as president she was the UN's top official at the African Union. She is fluent in English and French as well as Amharic, Ethiopia's main language.

As president she is expected to serve two six-year terms.

'Mulatu has shown us the way for change and hope, he has shown life continues before and after leaving power. I call on others to heed his example and be ready for change,' said Ms Sahle-Work in a speech to parliament.</s>Ethiopia’s parliament on Thursday swore in Meaza Ashenafi, the country’s first female supreme court president.

According to Reuters, Ashenafi's appointment sealed the reform effort of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to achieve gender parity in government.

Ashenafi, the 54-year-old human rights campaigner has served in various capacities including an adviser on women’s rights at the Addis Ababa-based United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.

Prime Minister, Abiy had told the country's lawmakers that Ashenafi can fix the court system that improved capacities “to successfully implement demands made with regards to justice, democracy and change in our country”.

“I have made the nomination with the firm belief that she has the capacity required, with her vast international experience in mind.”

Last week, the Horn of Africa appointed a 68-year-old diplomat as its new president. Sahile-Work Zewde replaced Mulatu Teshome, who tendered his resignation after 5 years in power.

Since Abiy became the Prime Minister in April 2018, he has embarked on various reforms for the East Africa nation. He also slashed ministerial positions and made an unprecedented move by constituting a new cabinet that is half female.

He had released political prisoners, promote peace with Ethiopia’s main enemy, Eritrea, and with the hope of opening up the economy for potential investors.</s>Ethiopia's gender equality efforts are getting some well-deserved attention lately. On Oct. 16, the country's prime minister Abiy Ahmed appointed women to half of the positions in the cabinet. Last week, Sahle-Work Zewde was elected the first woman president by the Federal Parliamentary Assembly. Now, on Thursday, Meaza Ashenafi became Ethiopia's first female Supreme Court chief.

According to Reuters, Ahmed said that he nominated Ashenafi "with the first belief that she has the capacity required with her vast international experience in mind."

Ethiopian chief of staff Fitsum Arega tweeted the news on Thursday. "Abiy Ahmed nominated Meaza Ashenafi as the first woman Federal Supreme Court President," Arega said. "Ethiopia's march towards gender parity in key leadership positions continues unabatedly. Congratulations!"

Arega also tweeted about the professional experience that Ashenafi, who was previously a high court judge, had. "Meaza Ashenafi is one of Ethiopia’s most seasoned lawyers and a prominent women rights activist," he said, adding that "she brings a track record of competence and relevant experience to the role."

Ashenafi is a founder of the Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association. She's also worked as an adviser on issues related to gender and women's rights for the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. Heralded as a symbol of empowerment for women in the country, Ashenafi fought against child marriages in rural parts of Ethiopia. Her efforts were highlighted in the 2014 film Difret, which Angelina Jolie was an executive producer on.

Ahmed's entry into the Ethiopian government has brought about critical changes especially on the frontiers of gender parity, foreign relations, and civilian rights. For instance, the young prime minister has opened the doors for Ethiopian exiles to return to the country if they wish to. When it came to foreign policy, Ahmed has made efforts to mend bilateral relations with the neighboring Eritrea.

Ahmed was elected the country's prime minister in April and is only 42 years old. One of the significant changes he has made is the aforementioned appointment of women ministers to the Ethiopian cabinet. The premier said in October that women were "less corrupt than men" and were more likely to work towards sustainable and peaceful solutions.

Among those to become ministers for the first time were Aisha Mohammed who serves as the country's defense minister, Muferiat Kamil as the minister of peace, Fetlework Gebre-Egziabher as the minister of trade and industry, Dagmawit Moges as the minister of transport, and others.

Given Ashenafi's extensive experience in dealing with issues concerning female autonomy, movement, and legal representation, her position as the country's first female Supreme Court chief may bring about even more robust and consistent laws on gender equality and safety. After all, she is expected to shed more light on violence against women through her own professional expertise.

It may not just be a positive change for the women of Ethiopia but also those in surrounding nations and beyond. With Zewde spearheading the nation as its president, a cabinet with half of its members that are women, and now Ashenafi, Ethiopia seems to be on its way to making gender equality entirely possible.
Meaza Ashenafi becomes the first woman in Ethiopia's history to preside over the Supreme Court.