Supreme Court Associate Justice Maria Filomena D. Singh speaks at the International Conference on Women, Peace, and Security Philippines 2024 at the Philippine International Convention Center on October 30, 2024.
Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office
Justice Singh: Judicial rulings shape how society treats every man, woman, child
“TO all of us in the judiciary, it is our duty to recognize that each ruling, each sentence, and each decision we render has the potential to shape how society treats every man, woman, and child.”
Thus remarked Associate Justice Maria Filomena D. Singh at the International Conference on Women, Peace, and Security Philippines 2024, held on October 30, 2024, at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC). The Conference, hosted by the Philippines, was led by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Philippine Open Government Partnership (PH-OGP).
Speaking on the topic, “Women as Agents of Peace and Justice: Legal Perspectives on the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Agenda,” Justice Singh stressed how the Judiciary can serve as an avenue to ensure respect for women’s rights and security.
“We are working tirelessly to make our courts safer and sensitive spaces for women and girls. When women walk through our doors, they should feel seen, protected, and confident that their lives, their rights, their issues matter. We are telling them, through each step we take toward gender equality, ‘We see you. We are here for you. And we are determined to help you find justice,’” said Justice Singh.
The Supreme Court, through its Committee on Gender Responsiveness in the Judiciary (CGRJ), co-chaired by Justice Singh, prioritizes inclusivity and equality in line with the Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027 (SPJI).
The Court has made progress under the SPJI’s target outcome of Access, with the approval of the Guidelines on the Use of Gender-Fair Language in the Judiciary and Gender-Fair Courtroom Etiquette to combat sexist language and promote sensitivity towards individuals of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, and expressions.
The CGRJ has also completed the Legal Feminism Study, which involved categorizing cases into legal themes and focused on four key areas: gender-fair language, marriage and family, LGBTQIA+ issues, and rape (including child sexual abuse). As outlined in the SPJI, the Study aims to examine the courts’ interpretation of gender-responsive laws and assess their capacity to identify gender-responsive remedies. It seeks to raise awareness of gender biases, inequalities, and discrimination as they manifest in judicial decisions—such as the stereotyping of men and women and instances of gender-based violence—and to propose corrective statements or measures to address these issues. The ultimate goal of the Study is to provide guidance to the Judiciary in its future efforts toward gender mainstreaming.
As part of the Justice Sector Coordinating Council (JSCC), the Court recently launched the Tri-City Special Justice Zone focused on combating Anti-Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) in Cagayan de Oro City, Iligan City, and Ozamiz City. These three cities were identified as role models in the fight against OSAEC, having recorded the highest number of operations and convictions, according to data from the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking.
Justice Zones are the JSCC’s flagship program at the local level, designed to enhance coordination among agencies in the justice sector.
The Court also recently presented its proposed Victim-Sensitive Guidelines in the Justice System to the JSCC. These guidelines outline eight key indicators to enhance victim sensitivity within the justice system: ensuring the safety and privacy of victims; their right to information and access to services; establishing standards for evidence and case proceedings; fostering appropriate interactions with victims; promoting inter-agency coordination for the physical, psychological, and social recovery of victims; ensuring access to forensic evidence and services; implementing special provisions for child victims; and providing special accommodations for victims with disabilities.
The Conference serves as an international stocktaking on the implementation of the WPS agenda and aims to develop collaborative strategies to overcome barriers to women’s participation in peacemaking and gender mainstreaming in the promotion of peace and security.
