SC Celebrates 2024 National Women's Month
March 4, 2024
Supreme Court Justices, Court officials, and employees wear shades of purple at today’s flag ceremony held at the Supreme Court courtyard in Padre Faura, Manila in celebration of International Women’s Month. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
“Out of nearly 2,000 judges, 55% are women, a testament to our commitment to inclusivity, meritocracy, and diversity.”
Thus shared Associate Justice Jhosep Y. Lopez, co-chairperson of the Supreme Court Committee on Gender Responsiveness in the Judiciary (CGRJ), at the Court’s celebration of International Women’s Month after the flag raising ceremony held at the Supreme Court courtyard this morning.
Justice Lopez further said that while it would also give so much benefit to have more female magistrates in the Supreme Court, “I know that this would no longer be a distant reality because we have Associate Justices Amy C. Lazaro-Javier and Maria Filomena D. Singh trailblazing a path towards an even more diverse court.”
Associate Justice Lazaro-Javier supported this by saying that along with Associate Justice Singh, the only two female voices in the Supreme Court, the thirteen other Justices never once made them feel diminished because according to her, they are “all progressive men, [who] always heard, respected, and listened to our voices.”
Justice Lopez also revealed that “the increasing trend to appoint more and more women to appellate court positions is also very promising.” However, he also acknowledged that despite this picture of progress, the same also spotlight areas where efforts need to be doubled: “The participation of women in nation-building remains an area that needs stronger advocacy and support.”
For his part, Associate Justice Henri Jean Paul B. Inting, co-chair of the CGRJ, acknowledged the Court’s consistent efforts in supporting women’s month and helping realize the lofty ambitions it aims to achieve. He pointed out that the Courts commitment is embedded in the Court’s Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027 or the SPJI. “As a core principle in the SPJI, the Court intends to pursue efforts that would ultimately further its desire to foster a culture of inclusivity,” Justice Inting highlighted.
Consistent with this year’s theme Women’s Month 2024: “WE for Gender Equality and Inclusive Society,” Justice Inting pointed out that “WE” stands for women and everyone. “This means that all of us are called to contribute to nation-building and that it is only through our collective efforts that we can truly achieve an inclusive society,” he said.
Further to this, Justice Lazaro-Javier emphasized that “Gender Equality and Inclusive Society is the Court delivering justice on behalf of women and children victims of violence as it is you encouraging your wives, mothers, daughters, sisters and the women in your lives to pursue their personal goals and dreams.” She further stressed, “it is women and men enjoying equal rights and privileges under the law as it is all of us consciously using gender-fair language, observing gender-fair etiquette, and abandoning gender stereotypes in all our dealings, especially in the Court.”
Acting Chief Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen also delivered an inspirational message and discussed how the Philippine Constitution is compared to other Constitutions in terms of recognizing women: “Our Constitution has done better because we have in Article 2, Section 14, the wording that the state shall ensure not only a passive act, the fundamental equality before the law of women and men. The order of women and men rather than men and women is a conscious decision of the Constitutional Commission when it wrote the Constitution.”
In congratulating the CGRJ’s efforts, the Acting Chief Justice also underscored that it is the only committee in the Supreme Court to be co-chaired by three Justices: Associate Justices Inting, Lopez, and Singh. “Congratulations to our Gender Responsiveness Committee, the only committee chaired by three Justices. That is how important it is.”
Acting Chief Justice Leonen ended the program with a hopeful message: “Sooner or later, I hope that we can graduate from gender responsiveness to gender justice.”
In line with the SPJI’s outcome of Access, the Supreme Court Office of Administrative Services prepared programs and activities for Court officials and employees to signify its strong support for all women and their rights. Likewise, all Court officials and employees are encouraged to wear purple office attire on all Mondays of March beginning today.
Also in attendance this morning was Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin S. Caguioa. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
(From right) Associate Justices Jhosep Y. Lopez and Henri Jean Paul B. Inting, co-chairpersons of the Supreme Court Committee on Gender Responsiveness in the Judiciary, lead the Supreme Court Justices, Court officials, and employees in today’s flag ceremony held at the Supreme Court courtyard in Padre Faura, Manila in celebration of International Women’s Month. Joining the co-chairpersons are (from left) Acting Chief Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen, and Associate Justices Alfredo Benjamin S. Caguioa and Amy C. Lazaro-Javier. This year’s theme is “Women’s Month 2024: “WE for Gender Equality and Inclusive Society.” (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
Acting Chief Justice Marvic M.V.F Leonen delivers an inspirational message before fellow Justices, and Court officials and employees at today’s flag ceremony held at the Supreme Court courtyard in Padre Faura, Manila in celebration of International Women’s Month. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
Associate Justice Amy C. Lazaro-Javier addresses fellow Justices and Court officials and employees this morning during the International Women’s Month kick-off activity at the Supreme Court courtyard in Padre Faura, Manila. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
Associate Justice Henri Jean Paul B. Inting, Co-Chairperson of the Supreme Court Committee on Gender Responsiveness in the Judiciary points out that “WE” in this year’s International Women’s Month theme “Women’s Month 2024: “WE for Gender Equality and Inclusive Society” stands for women and everyone. He adds, “this means that all of us are called to contribute to nation-building and that it is only through our collective efforts that we can truly achieve an inclusive society,” during the Court’s kick-off activity at the Supreme Court courtyard in Padre Faura, Manila this morning. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
Associate Justice Jhosep Y. Lopez, Co-Chairperson of the Supreme Court Committee on Gender Responsiveness in the Judiciary, reveals that “[o]ut of nearly 2,000 judges, 55% are women, a testament to our commitment to inclusivity, meritocracy, and diversity,” in his inspirational message during the Court’s celebration of International Women’s Month after the flag raising ceremony held at the Supreme Court courtyard at Padre Faura, Manila this morning. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)