SC launches campaign for VAW-free community

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court (SC) launched on Friday an 18-day campaign to end Violence Against Women (VAW) dubbed “One Billion Rising” with the theme “VAW-free community starts with me” that urges everyone to pursue a common vision of a community free from violence against women and girls.

SC Justice Amy Lazaro-Javier, chairperson of the Committee on Gender Responsiveness in the Judiciary (CGRJ), said “One Billion Rising” is the biggest mass action in the world to end gender-based violence against women, whether cisgender, transgender and those who identify themselves as women.

Lazaro-Javier said the SC has adopted twice the Civil Service Commission guidelines on the use of gender-fair language in issuances, decisions, orders and communications in the judiciary as she emphasized that they are now updating the rules of the committee on decorum and investigation of sexual harassment.

She said they are also drafting a policy on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression and sex characteristics for the judiciary that is well-suited, tactful and receptive and responsive to society’s changing attitudes on gender.

In his speech, Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo reiterated his commitment to ensure a VAW-free environment in every court and office in the judiciary nationwide as he emphasized that it is one of the four target outcomes of his strategic plan under his term from 2021 to 2026.

“Violence takes many forms. The Supreme Court, through the CGRJ will take an even more aggressive stance against every form of abuse and discrimination against women,” Gesmundo said.

“You can all rest assured that gender equality and equity will be front and center during my term. Women and men are inherently different, but the fundamental law of the land and the higher moral law mandate equality in all human relations. It is our solemn oath to ensure that every human being counts,” he added.

For his part, Justice Henri Jean Paul Inting, vice chairperson of the CGRJ, reminded everyone of their commitment to one another through the campaign #webelongtoeachother as he emphasized that it needs everyone’s efforts to end violence against women.