Outcome PHL_D_6.1

More justice institutions are accessible to and deliver for women and girls

In 2021, groundwork was laid particularly for community-based mechanisms and some formal justice institutions to help women and girls access justice. In terms of promoting the rights of women in conflict with the law (WICL), UN Women’s Access to Justice (A2J) Programme has: engaged grassroots and community-based organizations (including women’s organizations, youth groups, faith-based organizations, people’s organizations, homeowners’ associations, charity organizations working with WICL, and orphans/widows of victims of drug-related extra-judicial killings) in nine pilot communities in Quezon City and Davao City; trained 15 jail wardens and personnel, 52 women deprived of liberty, 45 paralegal volunteers in communities, 26 community leader researchers for data gathering on WICL, 139 community leaders and advocates (on basic gender concepts and gender equality, women's human rights, and advocacy), 340 community members including local justice actors or barangay officials, and 424 community members (on the Magna Carta of Women and rights of girl children in conflict with the law); and identified 60 WICL drug surrenderees for documentation and linkaging with legal groups. UN Women supported the work of implementing organizations in conducting paralegal trainings and sessions on gender and advocacy in communities, which has helped build the capacities of grassroots women to liaise with formal and informal or community-based justice providers and manage a community paralegal system for facilitating cases. Through these partnerships with NGOs, community profiles were developed, forming the bases for IECs, trainings, and service provision in project communities. In parallel with community interventions, paralegal trainings were held with women in detention and capacity building for jail wardens or personnel in Cebu jails. This assisted both sets of participants in identifying and communicating avenues to increase social or legal services and other support systems for women deprived of liberty. Aside from legal literacy and capacity building services, A2J provided technical assistance for women's access to justice. This proved useful in external collaboration, such as for projects with the International Development Law Organization (IDLO) and the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) which produced: a gender-based assessment of Philippine laws/policies; 2 series of trainings on legal drafting and gender-responsive legal reform attended by 72 representatives from Senate and Congress; and a policy paper and brief on Women in Detention. Other areas where UN Women provided technical inputs were in the gender-responsive treatment of lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LBTQIA) persons deprived of liberty and humanitarian response linked to GBV and LBTQIA persons. The above initiatives have raised the awareness of women and men in communities and justice providers on WICL’s rights, started changing negative views about WICL, and garnered more support for addressing their issues and challenges. A2J aims to keep working on creating an enabling environment for community leaders and women deprived of liberty to liaise with justice service providers and obtain crucial legal/social services, as well as engaging diverse stakeholders at the local and national levels towards advocating for laws/policies that are both humane and responsive to the distinct needs of WICL.

More justice institutions are accessible to and deliver for women and girls

UN Women, through the Access to Justice Programme, engaged 48 organizations for provision of diverse support services to women in conflict with the law (WICL). These include legal services, livelihood/education services, referrals to residential centers/facilities, and other social services (health, psycho-social, and spiritual).

More justice institutions are accessible to and deliver for women and girls

Will be implemented next year 2023