‘HerStory’ of Justices, Judges
April 01, 2022
Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Estela M. Perlas Bernabe (center) and Supreme Court Associate Justice Amy C. Lazaro-Javier (third from left) lead the women magistrates who received tokens after sharing “HerStory” during the launch of HerStory: Gender Award of Distinction for 2022 at the Manila Hotel on Thursday, March 31, 2022. (From left) Judge Selma P. Alaras of the Makati City Regional Trial Court, Branch 62; Judge Ma. Cristina G. Laderas of the Malolos City, Bulacan Regional Trial Court, Branch 85; Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo M. Cabotaje-Tang; Judge Maria Zenaida Bernadette T. Mendiola of the Malolos City, Bulacan Regional Trial Court, Branch 80; and Judge Jehan B. Sampao-Hassiman of the Pasay City Regional Trial Court, Branch 11 also shared their individual HerStory.
All these women Justices and judges were featured in the “HerStory, A Narrative” inspirational video which had its first public showing during the launch. Court of Appeals Presiding Justice Remedios A. Salazar-Fernando (not in photo) was also part of the video.
HerStory: GAD for 2022 is a brainchild of the Supreme Court Committee on Gender Responsiveness in the Judiciary (CGRJ) which is chaired by Justice Lazaro- Javier. In the coming months, the CGRJ will feature one story per month which will be given publicity. From these stories, three winners will be selected and will be awarded in March 2023 during the celebration of the Women’s Month. The guidelines will be soon circulated.
HerStory is a study on Gender Diversity and Mobility in the Philippine Judiciary commissioned by The Asia Foundation (TAF). The results of the study show how women judges have fared against male counterparts in terms of appointment to and advancement in the judicial hierarchy. It also identified some factors that have had an impact on the (dis)proportion of gender distribution within the different court levels, highlighting the encouraging increase in diversity in trial courts, which, however, is not reflected in the collegiate courts, particularly in the Supreme Court.
The launch is also supported by TAF and the Australian AID. (Courtesy of the SC Public Information Office)