ENHANCING

GENDER-RESPONSIVENESS
IN THE JUSTICE SECTOR

Carolyn Sobritchea

The views expressed in this paper are the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Asian Development Bank
(ADB), or its Board of Governors, or the governments they represent. ADB does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this paper
and accepts no responsibility for any consequence of their use. The countries listed in this paper do not imply any view on ADB's part as to
sovereignty or independent status or necessarily conform to ADB's terminology.
 Background
 Governance in Justice Sector
Reform Program
 TA Supporting Governance in
Justice Sector Reform in the
Philippines
 Strengthening Judicial Fiscal Autonomy and
Justice Sector Accountability, and Improved

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 Background

Access to Resources
 Improving Integrity and Individual
Accountability in the Sector
 Supporting Efficiency in the Sector
 Support for Alternative Dispute Resolution
 Access to Justice by the Poor and
Vulnerable Groups

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 Background

 Access to Justice by the Poor and

Vulnerable Groups
 SC Enhanced Access to Justice Program
 Comprehensive Jail Decongestion Program
 Civil society participation in Policy Dialogue
and Reform Implementation
 Enhancing gender responsiveness in the
justice sector

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Brief Analysis of Gender-Based
Challenges and Issues

 Prevalence of gender-based violence

 Limited awareness of women’s rights
 Restricted access to legal and social services
 Gender-insensitive investigation methods
 Sensational media accounts
 Lengthy court proceedings
 Social stigma attached to victims

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 Implementing Mechanisms

 Government agencies mandate

 Specific implementing rules and
standardized guidelines
 Women and children’s desks
 SC Rule on examination of child witnesses

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Challenges in Implementation
of Laws and Policies

 Traditional stereotypes

 Lack of due diligence in the procedures for

investigating, prosecuting and punishing of
cases

 Serious issues of graft and corruption in law

enforcement, prosecutorial and juridical
processes

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Challenges in Implementation
of Laws and Policies

 Insensitive case management by police,

prosecutors and courts
 Inadequate provision of funds and support
systems

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 Gender Legal Framework

 Anti-Sexual Harassment Act Of 1995

 Anti-Rape Law of 1997
 Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003
 Anti-Violence Against Women and Their
Children Act of 2004
 An Act Providing for the Magna Carta of
Women 0f 2009
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 TA Objectives
 Develop the capacity of selected justice
agencies (PNP, NPS and Judiciary) to:

 Provide gender-responsive handling of

gender-based and sexual violence cases

 Ensure that rape and other cases of gender-

based violence are not compromised or
dismissed
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 TA Activities

 Gender responsive skills development in PNP

 Procedures Manual for First Responders

 Stress Management Program

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 TA Activities
 Gender Sensitivity Capacity Building for NPS

 National Gender Sensitization Training

Program

 Accreditation of GST in the MCLE

 Establishment of GST-trained Public

Prosecutors

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 TA Activities

 Gender responsive policy development

and capacity building for the Judiciary

 Development of benchmark indicators and

performance standards for Family Courts
 Review of Rules of Court and Administrative
Procedures on gender-based violence cases
 Training on gender-sensitive handling of cases
for Family Courts
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 Monitoring and Evaluation
Framework
 Assessment

 Design of Agency Monitoring and

Evaluation Framework
 CGRJ
 NCRFW

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 GENDER TA Consultants
 Dr. Carolyn Sobritchea, GAD Expert/Team
Leader
 Dr. Leticia Ho, Stress Management Expert
 Mrs. Luz Rodriguez/Raquel Aquino, GAD
M&E Experts
 Mr. Ramon Tuazon, IEC Expert
 Prof. Myrna Feliciano, GAD Training Expert
 Court Administrator (Ret) Zenaida
Elepano, GAD Module Development Expert
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