SC Holds Exhibit in Celebration of Women’s Month
March 15, 2024
Acting Chief Justice Ramon Paul L. Hernando (center), assisted by (from left) Associate Justice Jhosep Y. Lopez, Associate Justice Maria Filomena D. Singh, Associate Justice Henri Jean Paul B. Inting, and Associate Justice Antonio T. Kho, Jr., leads the ribbon-cutting at the Opening of the 2024 Women’s Month Celebration Photo and Video Exhibit on March 15, 2024 at the Supreme Court Main Building lobby in Ermita, Manila. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
“Gender equality has never been about superiority or competition. Gender equality is about respect and recognition.”
Thus said Acting Chief Justice Ramon Paul L. Hernando as he led the opening of the 2024 Women’s Month Celebration Photo and Video Exhibit on March 15, 2024 at the lobby of the Supreme Court Main Building in Ermita, Manila.
The exhibit, organized by the Supreme Court Committee on Gender Responsiveness in the Judiciary (CGRJ), “aims to recognize and showcase the efforts of the Philippine Judiciary in empowering women and furthering gender equality.”
In his Opening Remarks, Acting Chief Justice Hernando cited some of the initiatives of the CGRJ in promoting “equal and inclusive justice” in line with the Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027. He then stated that all these projects have one objective—awareness.
Underscoring that “awareness inspires action,” he exhorted everyone to initiate efforts in their own ways, citing three important points.
First, “we must be proactive against discrimination, not merely reactive,” he said. This means helping prevent gender-based offenses from happening by educating others regarding their “obligations under the laws and rules centering on women” and informing women about their rights.
Second, he urged everyone to “[b]e a visible example of gender sensitivity and inclusivity” by always being considerate about “gender preferences, physiological differences, and specific sensitivities.” “Do not turn a blind eye at discriminatory, demeaning, and bigoted acts,” he added.
Lastly, he implored, “Let us treat gender sensitivity as a personal continuing education.” He emphasized that gender-based problems can be treated with knowledge, so we must keep ourselves abreast with new rules and laws and the ever-evolving social norms concerning gender. “Ignorance should never be an excuse for disrespect,” he continued.
For her part, SC Associate Justice Maria Filomena D. Singh, Co-Chairperson of the CGRJ, emphasized in her message that “the Judiciary has made great leaps” with regard to having a system that promotes sensitivity and inclusivity. She added that despite these milestones, the road ahead is still long and we must maintain the momentum in ensuring equality.
“True justice cannot be achieved without justice for all, and justice for all means justice that is equal and free from any form of discrimination,” she highlighted.
Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Maria Theresa V. Mendoza-Arcega, Vice Chairperson of the CGRJ, delivered the closing remarks. She made a call to her female colleagues in the Judiciary, whom she referred to as “empowered women,” to “make [their] efforts count” and “be the positive change” for their fellow Filipinas who are still suffering from gender-based discrimination.
Included in the Exhibit are compiled photos of the various official representations of Associate Justices Amy C. Lazaro-Javier and Singh in women judges conferences abroad where they shared the Philippine Judiciary’s efforts towards gender inclusivity and fairness; SC’s celebrations of Women’s Month and support for the Global Call to Ending Violence Against Women and the One Billion Rising Global Campaign; the gender sensitivity trainings and lectures on anti-violence against women conducted at the SC, Court of Appeals (CA), Sandiganbayan (SBN), and Court of Tax Appeals (CTA); and the lower courts’ celebration of the International Day of Women Judges, among others. A video presentation prepared by the SC Public Information Office highlighting the various initiatives and activities led by the CGRJ is also played on loop.
Justice Singh co-chairs the CGRJ with Associate Justice Henri Jean Paul B. Inting and Associate Justice Jhosep Y. Lopez.
In attendance during the event were Justices of the CA, SBN, and CTA; members of the Philippine Women Judges Association and International Association of Women Judges; members of the CGRJ and the Committee on Gender and Development; SC officials; and judges of the first- and second-level courts.
This year’s celebration of Women’s Month is themed “WE for gender equality and inclusive society.” The Exhibit will run until the end of the month. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
Acting Chief Justice Ramon Paul L. Hernando delivers the Opening Remarks during the Opening of the 2024 Women’s Month Celebration Photo and Video Exhibit on March 15, 2024 at the Supreme Court Main Building lobby in Ermita, Manila. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
Associate Justice Maria Filomena D. Singh, Co-Chairperson of the Supreme Court Committee on Gender Responsiveness in the Judiciary, delivers a message during the Opening of the 2024 Women’s Month Celebration Photo and Video Exhibit on March 15, 2024 at the Supreme Court Main Building lobby in Ermita, Manila. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Maria Theresa V. Mendoza-Arcega, Vice-Chairperson of the Committee on Gender Responsiveness in the Judiciary, delivers the Closing Remarks during the opening of the 2024 Women’s Month Celebration Photo and Video Exhibit on March 15, 2024 at the Supreme Court Main Building lobby in Ermita, Manila. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
Acting Chief Justice Ramon Paul L. Hernando (second from left) shares a light moment with Associate Justice Maria Filomena D. Singh, Associate Henri Jean Paul B. Inting, and Associate Justice Jhosep Y. Lopez, Co-Chairpersons of the Committee on Gender Responsiveness in the Judiciary, as they look at the photos during the opening of the 2024 Women’s Month Celebration Photo and Video Exhibit on March 15, 2024 at the Supreme Court Main Building lobby in Ermita, Manila. Also in the photo is Associate Justice Antonio T. Kho, Jr. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
The 2024 Women’s Month Celebration Photo and Video Exhibit presented by the Supreme Court Committee on Gender Responsiveness in the Judiciary, located at the Supreme Court Main Building lobby, will be on display until the end of March. It “aims to recognize and showcase the efforts of the Philippine Judiciary in empowering women and furthering gender equality.” (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)