LAWYER-activist Ambiga Sreenevasan has been awarded the World Jurist Association’s Ruth Bader Ginsburg Medals of Honour 2023 for her work in advocating for free elections and women’s and human rights.

The former bar president received the award from King Felipe VI of Spain in Madrid yesterday.

Ambiga was among five female recipients of the award for their work in promoting the rule of law, equality, breaking the glass ceiling and inspiring other women.

The other four were former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay from South Africa, the United Kingdom’s first female Supreme Court chief justice Brenda Hale, former Fijian Human Rights Commission head and co-founder of Fiji Women’s Rights Movement Imrana Jalal, and former Afghanistan Supreme Court judge Asifa Kakar. 

The late Ruth Bader Ginsburg was only the second woman in US history to be elevated to the Supreme Court.

Ginsburg was famous for her litigation work on gender equality and women’s rights, earning her the moniker “The Notorious RBG”.

She died in September 2020 at the age of 87. 

The World Jurist Association was founded in 1963 and promotes the rule of law throughout the world. This year was the second time the association had awarded the Ruth Bader Ginsburg Medal. 

Ambiga has received the 4th Commonwealth Rule of Law Award (2019) from the Commonwealth Lawyers’ Association, the United Nations Award (2018), Chevalier de Legion d’Honneur (Knight of the Legion of Honour) (2011), and US Secretary of State’s International Woman of Courage Award (2009). 

The Malaysian Insight has reached Ambiga for comment.

In a tweet yesterday, Ambiga thanked everyone for their well wishes and said she is “rushing home for the Malaysian Bar EGM to be held on Weds at 2pm in defence of the Independence of The Judiciary. Hope members of the Bar will do what they do best: upholding the rule of law!!!!!”. – May 10, 2023.