Justice and Healing Project culmination event gathers advocates and duty-bearers

Justice and Healing, the two-year project supported by the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights Program (EIDHR) ended with a conference that gathered women’s rights advocates last November 28, 2012 at the Bayview Park Hotel in Ermita, Manila.

Women’s Feature Service Executive Director Ms. Olive Tripon presented the Project Overview followed by Women’s Crisis Center (WCC) Consultant Ms. Theresa Balayon who discussed the J&H Approach as a work in progress. Then, Women’s Legal Education, Advocacy, and Defense (WomenLEAD) Foundation Atty. Claire Angeline Pauig Luczon

Atty. Claire Luczon presented the experiences of Legal Practitioners in dealing with VAWC cases in courts. Meanwhile, Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST) was represented by Project Development Specialist Margaret Yarcia.

The event featured two forums, the first of which featured: Former RTC Judge: Atty. Adoracion P. Cruz- Avisado, Chairperson, Transformative Justice Institute; Lawyer: Atty. Minerva Quintela, OIC WomenLead Foundation; PO2 Abigail Rayala of Guinobatan, Albay; and Barangay Official: Ms. Josie Fallesgon, GAD Focal Person, Brgy. Sauyo, Quezon City.

Meanwhile, the second forum panel was composed of LGU partner: Ms. Lorna Mandin, Executive Director, Integrated Gender and Development Division of Davao City; Area Coordinator: Ms. Agnes Carlos – Butuan City; Paralegal: Ms. Vera Gesite – Municipal Arts and Culture Coordinator, Alburquerque, Bohol; Service provider:Ms. Marie June Castro, program officer, DAWN Foundation, Bacolod City; and NGO: Atty Arnold Abejaron, President of Men Opposed to Violence Everywhere (MOVE) Davao.

Mr. Margarito Raynera, Programme Officer from the Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines then delivered closing remarks, through which he lauded the efforts of the Project Team and the participating organizations. For her part, musician Istarte Abraham presented a cultural performance.

The Justice and Healing project aims to strengthen components of the justice system to deliver rights-based and gender-sensitive services using the justice and healing perspective with respect to cases of VAW. #

 

Justice and Healing Project holds FGD at the Supreme Court

European Union-funded Justice and Healing Project held a focused group discussion with Supreme Court’s Committee on Gender Responsiveness last November 21, 2012.

The event was graced by Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro and 10 other committee members, as well as Atty. Dory Avisado of the Transformative Justice Institute.

Through the event, the Project Consortium sought the Committee’s commitment to help address the healing needs of victims of gender-based violence.

Project Implementers were led by Women’s Feature Service Executive Director Ms. Olive Tripon. Women’s Crisis Center was represented by Ms. Theresa Balayon, WomenLEAD Foundation by Attys. Claire Luczon and Minerva Quintela. ASSIST was represented by Project Development Specialist Margaret Yarcia.

Funded by the European Union under the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) programme, The Justice and Healing project, aims to strengthen components of the justice system to deliver rights-based and gender-sensitive services using the justice and healing perspective with respect to cases of VAW.

The Justice and Healing project is implemented by WFS together with its partners, Women’s Crisis Center (WCC), Women’s Legal Education, Advocacy, and Defense (WomenLEAD) Foundation, and the Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST).#

Justice and Healing Project holds roundtable on violence against women

The Justice and Healing Project, an initiative co-implemented by  Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST), held a Round table Discussion on Justice and Healing for Victim-survivors of Gender-based Violence on October 30, 2012 (Tuesday, 8:00am – 10:30am) at the Ortigas Foundation Library, 2nd Floor Ortigas Building, Ortigas corner Meralco Avenues, Ortigas Center, Pasig City.

Led by Project Lead Women’s Feature Service through Executive Director Ms. Olive Tripon and NCR Project Coordinator Ms. Angelica Carballo, it was graced by Department of Social Welfare and development Haven for Children Center Head Ms. Evangelina Lawas, Philippine National Police Women and Children Protection Center and P. Supt. Theresa Cid.

The Discussion aims to give information on the different issues of Violence Against Women (VAW) and the Justice and Healing project. The organizers will also present the results of the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) from the post-barangay forum. It is also the final community activity of the Justice and Healing project, which will end on November. Through this, the project partners sought the support of the stakeholders to sustain the Justice and Healing approach in dealing with VAW cases.

Funded by the European Union under the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) programme, The Justice and Healing project, aims to strengthen components of the justice system to deliver rights-based and gender-sensitive services using the justice and healing perspective with respect to cases of VAW.

The Justice and Healing project is implemented by WFS together with its partners, Women’s Crisis Center (WCC), Women’s Legal Education, Advocacy, and Defense (WomenLEAD) Foundation, and the Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST).

Other attendees were local community leaders from barangay UP Campus and 172 of Malibay, Pasay, service providers from the government, non-government organizations (NGOs), law enforcers, media, and other other stakeholders on the issue of violence against women. Ms. Margaret Yarcia represented ASSIST. #

Justice and Healing Holds Stakeholders Meeting, Last Barangay Forum

The Justice and Healing Project conducted a stakeholders forum and the last of its 15 barangay forums last June 14 and June 26, 2012, respectively.

The Stakeholders’ Meeting gathered representatives from the Project Team as well as the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Commission on Women, and the European Commission, to discuss experiences from past barangay forums, sustainability of anti-VAW advocacy, and the commitments of duty-bearers.

The barangay forum, on the other hand, convened officials and women’s advocates from Brgys. 169 and 172 in Malibay, Pasay City, with the help of the Soroptomists International.

After Olive Tripon of Women’s Feature Service introduced the Project and the implementers, Lilibeth Santos and Anamabel Garcia of the Women’s Crisis Center (WCC) presented on the insights of service providers from their experiences in handling cases of gender-based violence.

Meanwhile Atty. Claire Luczon and Women’s Legal Education, Advocacy and Defense Foundation, Inc. (WomenLEAD) discussed on the various laws on violence against women. Finally, Meg Yarcia of Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST) led the workshop which saw the barangay officials presenting what they are currently doing, and promise to do, in addressing cases of violence against women.

Through the forum, the Project Team hoped to engage various groups – the police, barangay officials, and women’s rights advocates in a discussion to address violence against women (VAW) and the long journey in seeking justice and healing.

Supported by the European Union through the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR), The Justice and Healing project seeks to strengthen the components of the justice system to deliver rights-based and gender-sensitive services using the Justice and Healing perspective with respect to the VAW cases.

The project is implemented by WFS, WCC, WomenLEAD, and ASSIST.