The entire month of
March is celebrated in the Philippines as Women’s Month.
When we review the
various programs and policies of the Philippine government designed to protect
women’s rights as human rights you would think that we are already in good
shape in this regard. The Philippines is rated number 8 in the world in the
area of Gender development; so far the highest in Asia.
RA 9710, the Magna
Carta of Women (MCW) that took effect almost 4 years ago is very much in place.
The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) is doing its best in promoting the
compliance and observance of MCW. PCW is
implementing the program called WEDGE, Women Empowerment and Development
towards Gender Equality.
Davao City is a good
example of a Local Government Unit (LGU) in the area of Mainstreaming Gender
and Develoment (GAD). There are concrete
programs of women empowerment long before MCW was passed.
About 16 years ago,
Davao City passed a local ordinance called Davao City Women Development Code,
the first ever in the Philippines. There is a functioning Integrated Gender
Development Division (IGDD) in the local government that implements programs on women empowerment
and Gender Equality all the way to the various barangays in all the three districts
in the city.
Much earlier, the
WOMYNET, or Women Network Group was recognized by the local chief executive of Davao city as a
network of government agencies, non-government organizations and church based
organizations with programs on women and children. The Executive Director of
Womynet comes from an NGO and church based group. The policy makers sitting in
the Management Committee or MANACOM, are
from both government and non-government organizations. The coordination and
cooperation of all agencies with programs on women and children is truly
amazing such that the Women Network has really become a force in itself. It is
a very rich resource for study of various cases involving women and girl
children.
For decades the WOMYNET has been in the forefront in
pushing for the transformation of the Philippine justice system. Along with the
Transformative Justice Institute ( TJI)
in alliance with the , Advocacy Consultancy Counseling and Christian
Teachings and Training Services Center (ACCCTTS); the Good Shepherd Sisters (RGS); Men Opposed to Violence Everywhere (MOVE); the IGDD; and LawInc., WOMYNET is instrumental in the creation of the
National Movement for Transformative Justice (NMTJ). WOMYNET has never wavered
in its resolve to protect the human rights of women and girl-children.
The Transformative
Justice Institute has been monitoring cases involving women and girl children
including drugs cases. We do gender analyses on why we are still facing so many
problems and challenges in the administration of justice especially in cases
involving women and girl children. As reported there are still so many
incidents that allow tremendous miscarriage of justice in cases of rape,
incest, child abuses and violence against women and children (RICAVAWC). In
regular dialogues conducted by TJI among all the pillars of the justice system
in Davao City, the wish for a transformed judiciary continues to reverberate.
The same wish can be heard all over the country.
Many times people have
pleaded for the national government to implement RA 8369 for the creation of
Regular Family Courts. Despite some initial commitments for its implementation
from high ranking officials under the present administration, nothing concrete
has been done. Apparently there is no clear program designed by the present
government in pursuing its proclaimed desire for Judicial Reform.
Through the years and
considering the various researches and studies conducted regarding the
continuing challenges on why despite decades of advocacy for women’s rights and
protection with both gender sensitive men and women already joining hands in
advancing the cause; many women and girl children victims still continue to suffer and are
violated. In many instances the designated Family courts are not able to
administer cases in accordance with the provisions of laws like RA 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women
and their Children Act of 2004.
The earlier findings
of the Transformative Justice Institute that there is an intertwining culture
of partriarchy, corruption and impunity in the Philippine Justice system is
still very true. The impeachment of a former Chief Justice and the appointment
of the first ever female Chief Justice of the Philippine Supreme Court are very remarkable and welcome developments.
Still, they are apparently not enough to turn around the intertwining culture.
For the many women and girl children victims
of violence and their support groups we are not yet seeing any significant changes to rejoice and really celebrate this women’s
month. The continuing prayer is that something more concrete can be in sight
next year.
With only about three
years remaining for the present President who committed judicial reform to take
place under his administration, more concrete and purposive actions must be initiated
and done very soon.
The LEAP JUSTICE or the Laypersons/Lawyers for
Ethical Administration of Philippine Justice and the National Movement for
Transformative Justice are willing to participate in any discussion that can
lead to the transformation of the Philippine Justice System in general and to
judicial reform in particular.
Proverbs 31:9 “ Speak
out, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and the needy”
Dory Cruz Avisado
3-31-13
