The winners of the Gender Justice Awards II  were announced yesterday at the Rembrandt Hotel in Quezon City, during the kick-off ceremonies of the 18-day campaign to end VAW. The Gender Justice Awards II is geared towards the elimination of gender bias and gender insensitivity experienced by women litigants in the courts.

After a year of gathering nominations from non government organizations (NGOs), private individuals and other judges and Sandiganbayan Justices, six judges were awarded by the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), Commission on Human Rights and Supreme Court who led the search for gender-sensitive judges who have handled cases who have rendered gender-sensitive decisions on VAW cases during the period January 2004 to December 2008.

CAMPAIGN TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN LAUNCHED
Awards for Gender-Responsive LGUs as well as Gender-Sensitive Judges and Sandiganbayan Justices
Condemns violence against women in Maguindanao massacre

25 Nov - As the Philippines joined the rest of the world to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on Wednesday, 25 November, government agencies and civil society groups joined together to launch the 18-day campaign to end violence against women - including awards for gender-responsive local government units as well as gender-sensitive judges and Sandiganbayan Justices.

The ceremonies held at Rembrandt Hotel in Quezon City also reminded all that the Maguindanao massacre committed on Monday, 23 November which targeted women and relatives of a rival political clan as a "deplorable" case of violence against women.

The Naga City Government, led by Mayor Jessie Robredo was named "Most Outstanding VAW Responsive Local Government Unit" for its many programs to protect women.   Bantay Familia is a multi-sectoral response to violence against women from cities to barangays, Task Force Sagip and Task Force Takipsilim monitor pornographic materials and staging of indecent shows. The city's VAW facilities are rated highly by civil society groups. The city government also tapped the services of volunteer lawyers to assist in its programs. Atty. Leni Robredo, President of the Naga City Council of Women received the markwer and plaque of recognition.

Judge Victoria Isabel Paredes, Executive Judge of Regional Trial Court Branch 124 of Caloocan City was awarded "Outstanding Gender-Sensitive Judge in the Philippines" in the second-ever Gender Justice Awards. She was cited for decisions applying the Anti-Rape Law of 1995 (R.A. 8353) and the Special Protecton of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act (R.A. 7610).  The way she conducted the hearings also showed gender-sensitivity in the court rooms and the application of the rules of court intended to make Philippine courts gender-responsive.

PCW Chairperson Myrna Yao, DILG Director John Castaneda and DSWD Director Sally Escutin presented the plaques of recognition for the LGUs while CHR Chairperson Leila M. de Lima, Deputy Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez and UNIFEM Chairperson Georgitta Pimentel-Puyat joined the PCW Chair in the presentation of trophies for the Gender Justice Awards II.

The 18-Day Campaign to End Violence against Women (VAW) is led by the Philippine Commission on Women in partnership with the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) and the Inter-Agency Council on Violence Against Women (IACVAWC) as well as with civil society organizations. It runs from November 25 to December 12, coinciding with the National Human Rights Awareness Week and International Human Rights Day (10 December).

The PCW called on all present to include in their prayers the families and relatives of the victims of the "deplorable crimes committed against women and juveniles in Maguindanao." It sympathizes with the  families of the victims and implores that perpetrators be brought to justice. The Commission on Human Rights, in its closing remarks, noted that "violence against women is not only committed at the individual level but also at the systemic and large-scale level, including the killings in Maguindanao." Women are particularly vulnerable in armed conflict. The government has the responsibility to provide remedies and justice for the victims of these rights violations.