HomeWomen In Leadership In the Law - Philippines

PHILIPPINES

Country Context

In 1973, the Philippines elevated its first woman, Cecilia Arreglado Muñoz-Palma, to the Supreme Court and has since regularly counted women among the ranks of its highest courts, including Justice Amy C. Lazaro-Javier and Justice Maria Filomena D. Singh who currently sit on the Supreme Court. Today, however, despite a high level of representation by women in lower courts (57%), systemic barriers continue to prevent women from achieving parity at the highest levels of the judiciary, where women currently only comprise 13% of the Supreme Court and 43% of the higher courts overall.

IAWJ has gleaned insights from the Philippines’ Judiciary’s HERstory report, including the pivotal role that judicial decision-making bodies or commissions5 play in promoting gender parity, particularly for higher levels of the judiciary. Women judges flourish when processes for selection and promotion are transparent and equitable.

IAWJ & PWJA’s Work

The Philippine Women Judges Association (PWJA) seeks to establish an Alliance for an Inclusive Judiciary (AIJ), consisting of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, law schools, and other civil society groups, to address issues specific to the nomination and appointment of women to the highest levels of the judiciary.

By building broader networks that promote greater transparency in the judiciary and elevate the visibility of women judges, the AIJ can counter gendered assumptions and biases that impede access to leadership positions. PWJA's proposed initiatives are: (1) to create a coalition to encourage judicial decision-making bodies to focus attention on promoting gender parity; (2) to gather and publish data examining women’s promotion and retention rates in the judiciary; and (3) to extend the HERstory campaign, which tells (through video) stories of women judges and their divergent career paths.

On October 8 we conducted a workshop in Manila where we brought together judicial officers and private practitioners from across the Philippines. Participants engaged in interactive discussions on challenges faced by women lawyers and judges in advancing their careers. A recurring theme was the lack of connections or professional networks, which often hinders career progression. However, participants highlighted opportunities for overcoming these barriers, such as joining organizations like the PWJA, which provides a supportive community and validates their experiences.

The session also allowed participants to share recommendations for improving women’s representation in the judiciary. The IAWJ and PWJA remain steadfast in their commitment to creating an environment where women judges can rise, thrive, and achieve gender parity, particularly in higher courts. Truly, empowered women empower women!

In the second half of the day on October 8th, we had the honor of meeting and interviewing the inaugural nominees and past awardees of the HERstory Gender Award of Distinction. These exceptional women judges, hailing from various regions of the Philippines, shared their remarkable journeys, the challenges they overcame, and the unwavering determination that propelled them to excel in their judicial careers. Their inspiring stories are a testament to resilience and leadership in the face of adversity.

Stay tuned as we spotlight their full interviews every Monday, sharing their stories and insights to inspire the next generation of women in leadership!

Partners

Resources

LJD Week 2023 | The Role of Gender in the Judiciary

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SC Celebrates 2024 National Women's Month

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Highlights of the IAWJ Asia-Pacific Regional Conference

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HerStory: A Narrative

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IAWJ, PWJA Lead in Transforming Asia-Pacific

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Blogs

PWJA Elevating Women Narratives in the Judiciary